Hillview Lakes
Saturday 17th April 2010
29 Anglers
Hillview has been lacking a good turnout on a Saturday of late if im honest, but now the good results have recently been coming more anglers wanted a go today. Gareth (Welshmagic) from Total Fishing and Match Fishing Scene had informed me he would be coming for a bash due to the volcanic ash, also 27 other anglers, including Garbolino’s Ian Didcote and good old Neville, so there would be some tough competition.
After taking all the money and having a nice breakfast I was in for the draw, hoping for peg 9 or 27... Ian went in at the front of the queue and pulled 9, and then I went in and pulled out 23. Not what I wanted. This peg is at the bottom end of heron and very rarely throws up any big weights so I already knew that it would be hard to frame, but I still set up and hoped that some fish would be in front of me. Neville had drawn 29! Gareth had pulled out 35, my dad was on the canal 47, my mate Ben was also on the canal and Lee had drawn 37 on the causeway.
I decided on fishing my normal approach. Shallow long, 1 line short and 2 margin swims. I plumbed up my short line at 5 metres, slightly to the right ( I went a bit further than normal because this is the shallowest part of the lake). My rig consisted of a 4 x 10 KC Chimp in 3 feet of water, 0.14 main line to an 0.12 hooklength and a Gamma pellet size 16. I had grey hydro as my elastic choice. My margin line to the right was 6 metre and then to the left at throwing distance by the bale. This rig was a 0.1 grizzly, 0.16 to an 0.14 hooklength finished with a size 14 gamma pellet, black hydro finished the set up. As for my long line, I did actually plumb up a bottom rig with a 0.3 Garbolino pellet pencil on 0.14 main line with 0.12 hooklength then a 18 gamma pellet with number 12 sensas latex. My shallow rigs were the norm – Malman thicko’s on 0.16 main line with 0.14 hooklengths all with bait bands and 18 b911’s all finished with 12 latex again.
At the all in I cupped in half a pot of pellet on my short line and a quarter of a pot at 14,5 metres then went straight onto my short line with a 4mm pellet and started pinging my shallow line hoping to line a few fish up. After a succession of missed bites in the first 10 minutes I finally connected with a roach that flew through the air, then a skimmer next drop, then finally a small carp about 2lb. After the carp I couldn’t buy a bite. After another 30 minutes I picked up my shallow rig and banded a 4mm pellet. No bites were forthcoming even though the surface was black with fish swimming around. I then foul hooked a carp out of the blue on my shallow rig that hooked itself but I really wasn’t having any indications on the float at all. I tried my bottom rig long continuing to feed a few pellets via catapult but I only managed a couple of skimmers and a small tench.
Hour 3 and the surface was alive with carp just cruising about so I picked up my balaclava rig (a shallow rig as above but no shot down the line as a large 6mm cocks the small float perfectly). First drop I slapped the pellet in front of a cruising fish and it was on... this was the trend for the next hour and a half as I steadily mugged fish on the pellet. Some snatched it, others just swam on. I did manage some really nice fish and thought id pulled myself back, but then come 2.30 the fish had vanished and I was back to square one.
I had been feeding my edge religiously since 12 and I was banking on having some fish there by now. I laid in my rig with a 4mm pellet and waited. Just as I was about to come off the line the float dinked and as I lifted the biggest ghost carp I had seen popped to the surface – clearly foul hooked. It didn’t fight and I just tried to guide it round, it was too big for my net as I tried to scoop it I slightly tapped it, leaving me without the fish! Gutted was an understatement.
In the last hour I managed a few more mugged fish but was now well behind. Neville had bagged, Diddy had managed a good 2 hours down the edge, and Gareth had caught a few shallow and some monsters down the side. Finally weighing in, Nev had clearly won with 127lb 74 was second so I knew I was out of the top 3 and all I could hope for was a section, I tipped 68lb on the scales and hoped for the best as I didn’t know how Keith had worked the sections. Diddy took second spot with 106lb and I pipped Gareth by 2lb. All in all I had more than I imagined I was going to catch and picked up some section money and 4th overall. I am now looking forward to the bank holiday Monday match which will be a double header!
Monday 19 April 2010
Monday 12 April 2010
Saturday 10th April 2010
Hillview Lakes
After arriving at the fishery, the sun was blaring and I imagined we would be in for a good day after the good weights on Wednesday (143lb won, 2 more tons and various 80s and 90s). After a nice big fry up I had a walk around the pools by myself to try and work out what exactly was going on. I was intending to fish shallow, but I actually saw no fish top when I was walking around. Not good. What I did notice was that there was a lot more colour in Moorhen than heron… I had to fancy any peg along the causeway after Wednesdays weights (pegs 5-10) but I would turn my nose up at 19, 17 or 16 either. I have never really got on with peg 12 so didn’t really want to draw that and peg 2 would be the one no one wanted… My dad unfortunately drew this. So in I went and pulled out 15. Not a peg I wanted but it did win last Sunday so I was hoping there were some still there.
Arriving at my peg I saw Terry King setting up on peg 8 and I thought it would be game over, Josh on peg 10 which he skipped to. I had my work cut out. I had a good sit down for 5 minutes and had a think about my plan. I finally decided to keep it simple by fishing shallow at 13m pushing out to 14.5 or 16 if they backed off, a 4 metre line (where all the weights were caught Wednesday) and 2 margin swims, one to the left at 13m up the corner and 1 to my right throwing distance. First of all I plumbed up my 4 metre swim with a 4 x 12 KC Chimp in 4.5 foot of water, there was no breeze at all so I could get away with a lighter float, plus I was fishing pellet so I wanted it to be as natural as possible. This rig was 0.14 main line to a 0.12 hooklength, all Silstar, 16 Gamma Pellet hook. Shotting pattern was simple; number 10’s spread 3 inches apart. Elastic was Grey Hydro. My margin rig was next plumed up, right tight to some reeds up the corner in 2.5 foot of water. This was a 0.2 Grizzly (seems heavy but want to anchor the rig dead still). 0.16 main line to a 0.14 hooklength (again Silstar) to a 14 Gamma Pellet hook. A simple bulk was all that is needed down the edge, 10 inches from the hook. Elastic was black hydro. Finally I set up 2 shallow rigs, both Malman Thickos in 4 x 10. Both rigs were 0.14 main line to 0.12 hooklength. Hooks were 18 b911 eyed as I was fishing a hair rigged micro band on both. The reason I set up 2; one was an ‘ideal’ rig, if the fish were having it shallow I could fish it 1 foot deep or shallower and have a short line to hit fast bites, the other rig was a ‘wary’ rig. If the fish were going to feed iffy and wary, they wouldn’t want a pole over there hair so I could fish this rig a foot deep and swing it past my pole tip – that’s the theory anyway! Elastic wise was number 12 slip. Bait wise, I had a bag of 4mm pellet (feed), 1 pint was soaked for feeding edges and 4 metres and the other pint was left dry for fishing shallow, 1 tin of meat, some 4mm RS Expanders and some 6mm hard pellets for banding.
At the all in I fed my 4 metre line first, just covering the bottom of my big Preston ‘kup’. Next I fed half a pot of pellet at 13m (I wasn’t fishing on the deck but wanted to draw fish in the area then bring them up) and I never feed the edges until about 12 o clock. I picked up my 4 metre rig, hooked a 4mm pellet and lowered it in. At this point there was a lot of debris in my peg so I had to keep tweaking where my rig was. I picked up my catty and started to feed shallow. Terry had already had one big carp and I thought he was going to empty it. I then had a dink on the float which I missed, so I lowered it back in and it went again. First fish of the day on, now all the debris was right under my feet and the fish had gone through the lot of it! I tried my best to manoeuvre the fish around it actually trying to hard and managing to lose the bugger! I didn’t feed and just went back in with another pellet. Minutes later I was into another which I got in about 3lb. I then clipped on a toss pot and fed 20 pellets which seemed to kill the swim.
After 10 more biteless minutes, I had to try shallow. I banded a 6mm on the ‘wary rig’ and swung it out. I was feeding about 4-5 pellets every 20 seconds or so. At this point Josh hooked his first fish shallow so I thought I could have a few. Right at that, my float flew under and I hooked one as well. About 4 pounder in the pan. I had 3 more in the next hour but was really slow and hard going. Slapping the rig just wasn’t right today they were spooking ever so easy.. I had now also started to feed my right hand edge with 4-6 cubes of meat every 10 minutes and I was itching to have a go.. So I left the shallow line, still feeding it, and had a look on the inside.. I had one liner and that was it. I now started to feed my long margin line. I cupped in a handful of pellet and planned on topping it up every 30 minutes to give the fish some confidence.
Back shallow and all I could do was miss bites, so I changed to meat on the ‘ideal’ rig, still missing them.. I then banded a 4mm hard pellet and had 4 fish in 4 drops! Sussed! I continued to put a few more fish in the net but again they had gone a bit iffy again… So I tried my long edge, stocky first bung then a skimmer, then nothing. I fed it and tried the other side, stocky, stocky nothing! So I continued to feed that. At this point robin on 19 had filled his one net and went trundling off to get another! I thought I had about 30lb and needed these last 2 hours to be good. I managed one more fish shallow before just concentrating on my inside lines.
As soon as I dropped in on my short meat edge my pole was yanked out of my hand and a 3 pounder was in the net, so I fed it and laid another cube back in, the float dinked slightly and a sharp lift resulted in another chubby carp. Again just flicking cubes in I changed to my long line down the edge not wanting to exhaust them so early on. As I laid the rig in it didn’t even settle before it flew away. I lifted and it was just heavy, it was harder work just trying to pull a heavy weight to the side to get my pole on my rollers. 30 seconds later a big 10 pounder lay in my net flapping its head off. I then fed that line and changed to my short one… This was the trend for the rest of the match as I managed a few from each line, but any feed over there head when you were fishing it, I wouldn’t get a bite.
At the all out, I had a foul hooked carp on which I got out 5 minutes later about 5 pound. Alan had bagged the last 30 minutes on 6 and Robin hadn’t had another fish since he dropped another net in. Robin weighed in first with 58lb, I thought I had about 60lb but not much more, 2 weighs later and I had 73lb, the stockies really have piled on the weight. Bob on 12 had a few the last hour but Alan managed 3rd with 47lb from 6. It fished tough but I had managed a win never the less. Hopefully they’ll switch on properly soon.
Hillview Lakes
After arriving at the fishery, the sun was blaring and I imagined we would be in for a good day after the good weights on Wednesday (143lb won, 2 more tons and various 80s and 90s). After a nice big fry up I had a walk around the pools by myself to try and work out what exactly was going on. I was intending to fish shallow, but I actually saw no fish top when I was walking around. Not good. What I did notice was that there was a lot more colour in Moorhen than heron… I had to fancy any peg along the causeway after Wednesdays weights (pegs 5-10) but I would turn my nose up at 19, 17 or 16 either. I have never really got on with peg 12 so didn’t really want to draw that and peg 2 would be the one no one wanted… My dad unfortunately drew this. So in I went and pulled out 15. Not a peg I wanted but it did win last Sunday so I was hoping there were some still there.
Arriving at my peg I saw Terry King setting up on peg 8 and I thought it would be game over, Josh on peg 10 which he skipped to. I had my work cut out. I had a good sit down for 5 minutes and had a think about my plan. I finally decided to keep it simple by fishing shallow at 13m pushing out to 14.5 or 16 if they backed off, a 4 metre line (where all the weights were caught Wednesday) and 2 margin swims, one to the left at 13m up the corner and 1 to my right throwing distance. First of all I plumbed up my 4 metre swim with a 4 x 12 KC Chimp in 4.5 foot of water, there was no breeze at all so I could get away with a lighter float, plus I was fishing pellet so I wanted it to be as natural as possible. This rig was 0.14 main line to a 0.12 hooklength, all Silstar, 16 Gamma Pellet hook. Shotting pattern was simple; number 10’s spread 3 inches apart. Elastic was Grey Hydro. My margin rig was next plumed up, right tight to some reeds up the corner in 2.5 foot of water. This was a 0.2 Grizzly (seems heavy but want to anchor the rig dead still). 0.16 main line to a 0.14 hooklength (again Silstar) to a 14 Gamma Pellet hook. A simple bulk was all that is needed down the edge, 10 inches from the hook. Elastic was black hydro. Finally I set up 2 shallow rigs, both Malman Thickos in 4 x 10. Both rigs were 0.14 main line to 0.12 hooklength. Hooks were 18 b911 eyed as I was fishing a hair rigged micro band on both. The reason I set up 2; one was an ‘ideal’ rig, if the fish were having it shallow I could fish it 1 foot deep or shallower and have a short line to hit fast bites, the other rig was a ‘wary’ rig. If the fish were going to feed iffy and wary, they wouldn’t want a pole over there hair so I could fish this rig a foot deep and swing it past my pole tip – that’s the theory anyway! Elastic wise was number 12 slip. Bait wise, I had a bag of 4mm pellet (feed), 1 pint was soaked for feeding edges and 4 metres and the other pint was left dry for fishing shallow, 1 tin of meat, some 4mm RS Expanders and some 6mm hard pellets for banding.
At the all in I fed my 4 metre line first, just covering the bottom of my big Preston ‘kup’. Next I fed half a pot of pellet at 13m (I wasn’t fishing on the deck but wanted to draw fish in the area then bring them up) and I never feed the edges until about 12 o clock. I picked up my 4 metre rig, hooked a 4mm pellet and lowered it in. At this point there was a lot of debris in my peg so I had to keep tweaking where my rig was. I picked up my catty and started to feed shallow. Terry had already had one big carp and I thought he was going to empty it. I then had a dink on the float which I missed, so I lowered it back in and it went again. First fish of the day on, now all the debris was right under my feet and the fish had gone through the lot of it! I tried my best to manoeuvre the fish around it actually trying to hard and managing to lose the bugger! I didn’t feed and just went back in with another pellet. Minutes later I was into another which I got in about 3lb. I then clipped on a toss pot and fed 20 pellets which seemed to kill the swim.
After 10 more biteless minutes, I had to try shallow. I banded a 6mm on the ‘wary rig’ and swung it out. I was feeding about 4-5 pellets every 20 seconds or so. At this point Josh hooked his first fish shallow so I thought I could have a few. Right at that, my float flew under and I hooked one as well. About 4 pounder in the pan. I had 3 more in the next hour but was really slow and hard going. Slapping the rig just wasn’t right today they were spooking ever so easy.. I had now also started to feed my right hand edge with 4-6 cubes of meat every 10 minutes and I was itching to have a go.. So I left the shallow line, still feeding it, and had a look on the inside.. I had one liner and that was it. I now started to feed my long margin line. I cupped in a handful of pellet and planned on topping it up every 30 minutes to give the fish some confidence.
Back shallow and all I could do was miss bites, so I changed to meat on the ‘ideal’ rig, still missing them.. I then banded a 4mm hard pellet and had 4 fish in 4 drops! Sussed! I continued to put a few more fish in the net but again they had gone a bit iffy again… So I tried my long edge, stocky first bung then a skimmer, then nothing. I fed it and tried the other side, stocky, stocky nothing! So I continued to feed that. At this point robin on 19 had filled his one net and went trundling off to get another! I thought I had about 30lb and needed these last 2 hours to be good. I managed one more fish shallow before just concentrating on my inside lines.
As soon as I dropped in on my short meat edge my pole was yanked out of my hand and a 3 pounder was in the net, so I fed it and laid another cube back in, the float dinked slightly and a sharp lift resulted in another chubby carp. Again just flicking cubes in I changed to my long line down the edge not wanting to exhaust them so early on. As I laid the rig in it didn’t even settle before it flew away. I lifted and it was just heavy, it was harder work just trying to pull a heavy weight to the side to get my pole on my rollers. 30 seconds later a big 10 pounder lay in my net flapping its head off. I then fed that line and changed to my short one… This was the trend for the rest of the match as I managed a few from each line, but any feed over there head when you were fishing it, I wouldn’t get a bite.
At the all out, I had a foul hooked carp on which I got out 5 minutes later about 5 pound. Alan had bagged the last 30 minutes on 6 and Robin hadn’t had another fish since he dropped another net in. Robin weighed in first with 58lb, I thought I had about 60lb but not much more, 2 weighs later and I had 73lb, the stockies really have piled on the weight. Bob on 12 had a few the last hour but Alan managed 3rd with 47lb from 6. It fished tough but I had managed a win never the less. Hopefully they’ll switch on properly soon.
Monday 29 March 2010
Hillview Lakes
Saturday 27th March 2010
16 Fished
16 turned up and with pleasure anglers on pegs 24-30 on heron I was already a bit doubtful of the pools producing but would still take a draw on heron (the walkway side). Because of the pleasure anglers and only 16 anglers turning up Keith decided on a rover. I pulled out peg 12. Not the best. After most the anglers looking at Wednesdays results they ran to the canals. Moorhen was also pretty full so come my draw no one had gone on heron. So I got excited and went on peg 37.
Getting to my peg, there weren’t as many fish on the top as id hoped for. Also the wind was off my back. Firstly I set up my new Preston ²G10 pole which I was dying to fish long shallow with, so I set up 2 shallow rigs comprising of 0.14 main line to 0.12 hook lengths with Gamma pellet hooks in size 16. Floats, I used Ackoo shallow floats in 0.2. I also set up a rig for on the bottom which was a 4 x 16 KC Chimp; this was on 0.14 again to a 0.12 hook length and a size 16 gamma pellet. A simple bulk and 2 droppers on this. I also set up an 8m rig fishing at 10 o clock. This was the same rig as above but with a 4 x 14 float. Also a margin rig, again exactly the same but with a 4 x 10 chimp. Pheww! Elastic for shallow was white hydro, grey for on the bottom and black hydro in the edge. I also set up a waggler rod which was a mach 3 11ft, with a mach 3 reel. 0.18 hooklenth with a Drennan feeder hook and a new Cralusso waggler. Bait wise I had a pint of 4mm feed pellet, 6 and 4mm hookers, corn, a little bit of meat on the hook and some 8mm pellets for banding.
At the all in I fed 20 or so pellets and a bit of corn on all lines apart from my margin line, which I leave until about 12 o clock. I then chucked the waggler for the first hour which produced one small carp. Not the best start. I then re-fed all my pole lines and dropped in at 14 metres on the deck. I started to ping 4 pellets every minute or so. After 10 minutes a carp boiled right by my float so I changed to my shallow rig, 15 minutes later, altering depths , shotting pattern and hook baits eventually after many silly bites, my float shot under and I was attached to a nice plump 4 pounder. I fed again and went straight back in using meat on the hook. Nothing after 20 minutes longer I kept pinging it and had a look short. Short line produced nothing, so I fed that and went back on the waggler, where I had a lot of bites but couldn’t hit any. I eventually struck into a carp which darted behind the island, my rod was locked out as I just held on, all of a sudden it went slack and it was off. The rod stood up well, but my hook had been straightened!
The waggler had produced a few small carp but nothing major so I was back on the pole shallow where I had a carp first chuck then as I went back in I saw a big black shadow swim towards my hook bait and BANG, fish on. I got the fish to the net and it just popped up as I took a scoop it shot off and come off! After a lot of cursing to myself I went back in for another go, I had now been feeding my edge and 8 metre lines quite regularly. I had about 20lb in my net going into the last 2 hours and I thought 50-60lb would be enough. So I went in confident down the edge and had a skimmer first cast and then a small carp then nothing so I fed it and went to 8 metres. In 20 minutes I put about 10lb in the net from the 8m line, feeding nothing and just fishing a 6mm pellet until it died. Back down the edge and I hooked a fish straight away and it was obviously foul hooked as it shot off into the middle of the lake. Test number one for my new pole! I held on and eventually got back to my top 2 where it shot of again. It was trying to snag me in my near side margin, until I pulled it all the way across the surface and slid the net under a 7 pounder! My margin was now devoid of fish though. I fed it and back to 8 metres with nothing. So I went on the waggler and snared a few more carp before the all out. I knew deep down I hadn’t done enough to win as the canals had fished well with most catching in the edge. When Keith arrived at my peg and told me Josh was winning with 63lb and 2 more weights of 60+ had come out I felt rather dejected after my 2 previous wins. I tipped a hard earned 51lb on the scales for only 4th in the match. I think the only thing I could have done different today is stuck on one or 2 lines and hoped they eventually showed up… Willow Marsh for a Friday afternoon match looks promising if the weather holds.
Saturday 27th March 2010
16 Fished
16 turned up and with pleasure anglers on pegs 24-30 on heron I was already a bit doubtful of the pools producing but would still take a draw on heron (the walkway side). Because of the pleasure anglers and only 16 anglers turning up Keith decided on a rover. I pulled out peg 12. Not the best. After most the anglers looking at Wednesdays results they ran to the canals. Moorhen was also pretty full so come my draw no one had gone on heron. So I got excited and went on peg 37.
Getting to my peg, there weren’t as many fish on the top as id hoped for. Also the wind was off my back. Firstly I set up my new Preston ²G10 pole which I was dying to fish long shallow with, so I set up 2 shallow rigs comprising of 0.14 main line to 0.12 hook lengths with Gamma pellet hooks in size 16. Floats, I used Ackoo shallow floats in 0.2. I also set up a rig for on the bottom which was a 4 x 16 KC Chimp; this was on 0.14 again to a 0.12 hook length and a size 16 gamma pellet. A simple bulk and 2 droppers on this. I also set up an 8m rig fishing at 10 o clock. This was the same rig as above but with a 4 x 14 float. Also a margin rig, again exactly the same but with a 4 x 10 chimp. Pheww! Elastic for shallow was white hydro, grey for on the bottom and black hydro in the edge. I also set up a waggler rod which was a mach 3 11ft, with a mach 3 reel. 0.18 hooklenth with a Drennan feeder hook and a new Cralusso waggler. Bait wise I had a pint of 4mm feed pellet, 6 and 4mm hookers, corn, a little bit of meat on the hook and some 8mm pellets for banding.
At the all in I fed 20 or so pellets and a bit of corn on all lines apart from my margin line, which I leave until about 12 o clock. I then chucked the waggler for the first hour which produced one small carp. Not the best start. I then re-fed all my pole lines and dropped in at 14 metres on the deck. I started to ping 4 pellets every minute or so. After 10 minutes a carp boiled right by my float so I changed to my shallow rig, 15 minutes later, altering depths , shotting pattern and hook baits eventually after many silly bites, my float shot under and I was attached to a nice plump 4 pounder. I fed again and went straight back in using meat on the hook. Nothing after 20 minutes longer I kept pinging it and had a look short. Short line produced nothing, so I fed that and went back on the waggler, where I had a lot of bites but couldn’t hit any. I eventually struck into a carp which darted behind the island, my rod was locked out as I just held on, all of a sudden it went slack and it was off. The rod stood up well, but my hook had been straightened!
The waggler had produced a few small carp but nothing major so I was back on the pole shallow where I had a carp first chuck then as I went back in I saw a big black shadow swim towards my hook bait and BANG, fish on. I got the fish to the net and it just popped up as I took a scoop it shot off and come off! After a lot of cursing to myself I went back in for another go, I had now been feeding my edge and 8 metre lines quite regularly. I had about 20lb in my net going into the last 2 hours and I thought 50-60lb would be enough. So I went in confident down the edge and had a skimmer first cast and then a small carp then nothing so I fed it and went to 8 metres. In 20 minutes I put about 10lb in the net from the 8m line, feeding nothing and just fishing a 6mm pellet until it died. Back down the edge and I hooked a fish straight away and it was obviously foul hooked as it shot off into the middle of the lake. Test number one for my new pole! I held on and eventually got back to my top 2 where it shot of again. It was trying to snag me in my near side margin, until I pulled it all the way across the surface and slid the net under a 7 pounder! My margin was now devoid of fish though. I fed it and back to 8 metres with nothing. So I went on the waggler and snared a few more carp before the all out. I knew deep down I hadn’t done enough to win as the canals had fished well with most catching in the edge. When Keith arrived at my peg and told me Josh was winning with 63lb and 2 more weights of 60+ had come out I felt rather dejected after my 2 previous wins. I tipped a hard earned 51lb on the scales for only 4th in the match. I think the only thing I could have done different today is stuck on one or 2 lines and hoped they eventually showed up… Willow Marsh for a Friday afternoon match looks promising if the weather holds.
Monday 22 March 2010
BACK TO BLOGGING!!!
Hillview Lakes
20/03/2010 – 17 fished
Keith plagued me Wednesday about not coming Saturday because I was scared of Nev, so with a bit of form coming back I hit Hillview. After yet another bang on breakfast I wanted any peg with the wind off my back. 27 was my location for the day…With Nev on the next peg 29! Talk about pressure! The rain started as soon as I set up which I wasn’t happy with but I quickly set up my hoards of rigs! I planned on the same attack as Wednesday as I knew it was worth a few fish. I also set up 2 shallow rigs as I thought it may be worth a few odd cruising ghosties. Rigs were the same as Wednesday, shallow rigs were 4x10 chimps.
At the all in I fed my long line with about 50 4mm pellets, some hookers and a little bit of corn. The same was deposited on my 2 8 metre lines. For the first 45 minutes I was completely roached out on every bait and every line. I was pulling my hair out. I did lose 2 carp which I think were foul hooked. I noticed a floating weed about 15 metres out and carp were gobbing it so I quickly grabbed my shallow rig and lowered a pellet in about 2 foot deep right beside it and it buried! A nice 4lb carp in the net. I did exactly the same thing again except I had to swing the rig as the weed was floating out, it buried again and carp number two was in. The weed had then gone so I just lowered it in at 16 metres and managed another mug carp. It then went quiet and I was back getting pestered with roach. At 12 o clock I decided to start pinging pellets at 14 metres and sitting on a shallow rig, I had a dog roach first cast then a pest roach next cast. 5 minutes later I was into a carp and buzzing! I was feeding just 4 pellets every 30 seconds or so and lifting and dropping regularly. I had a golden hour and I was now well in with a chance. The rain then started again at 1.30 ish and that was that shallow! L
My 8 metre lines were devoid, so I went back to 14 metres on the deck still pinging and just nicking skimmers, roach and the odd small carp. Soon this slowed up though and I fed my margin. I tried shallow just dopping a pellet all over the swim which resulted in 3 carp in the shadows. Then nothing. So with 45 to go I persevered with my edges (which I had nothing from) and my 8 metre line were I was now just feeding corn by hand. I put some chunky skimmers and a few small carp in the net to maintain my lead.
At the all out I knew I had just about held on to it as Nev got better in the last hour. I must add he was unfortunate to break his pole before the match so couldn’t fish shallow past 8 metres. No, I didn’t break it! 26lb was the best weight till Nev, then he tipped 40lb on the scales which then I weighed 54lb. Another win in the bag making it 2 on the bounce and 3 pick ups! Result! Roll on Saturday.
Hillview Lakes
17/03/2010 – 20 fished
I finally decided to venture back to my home turf Hillview. My dad had been cleaning up on a Wednesday winning 5 on the trot at one point (all from good pegs!) so I was eager to be back and give him a slapping. After a nice breakfast, which I had missed, nowhere does a breakky like Hillview! 20 chaps had turned up for this (obviously they need to get real jobs the lucky gits!) and I was in for the draw…. I pulled out 37 on heron which had won the previous Wednesday so I was hoping they were still there. My dad was behind me on peg 6 which was a decent peg. Keith had pegged it bang on with 7 on the canal and the rest split between the 2 lakes LOADSA ROOM!
I decided on my normal Hillview winter plan which was long pole with pellet, 2 short lines about 8 metres and 2 edges. Bait wise I had pellet and corn. My long line at 14 metres was a 4x16 chimp to counter the wind in 5 foot of water. This was on 0.14 to 0.12 line finished off with a 16 gamma pellet. This was a simple bulk of number 8’s and 2 number 10 dropper shot. 8 metres rigs were the same but with 4x14 chimps. Edge rigs were also the same but with 4x12 chimps. I do say edge, but I was fishing at least 2 metres from the banks at the bottom of the shelf as the water was still quite clear. Elastic wise, all my rigs were on 12 Preston slip. Simple stuff.
At the all in I fed my 14 metre line first with about 20 dampened 4mm feed pellets and a few grains of corn and some sample hook pellets. On the 8 metre lines I fed a small cone of pellet on both lines. Margin lines were left until a least 12 o’clock.
I waited 40 minutes for my first fish which was a small stocky carp; at this point my dad had had 3 carp of a decent size! He is the nuts! I went back in again but failed to get a bite. I fed it and left it. Dropping in at 8m resulted in a skimmer first cast, followed by a run of them without topping up. I re-fed and left it as I didn’t want to fish it out to soon. On the right hand line I had a decent carp about 4lb. this mid part of the match I rotated between the 2 lines picking up odd fish. The long line was devoid of fish apart from one ghostie about 4lb which was a welcome bonus. Come 2 o’clock with 2 hours left I fed my edges with a bit of corn and a few pellet and continued a good run on my 8 metre lines. I could not get any fish on corn though, everything was falling to pellet. I could also only nick about 2 fish from each line before changing to the other. I was catching a fish, feeding that line, changing to the other line and the same process. Fifteen minutes later I fed my edges again with about 20 pellets and 2 grains of corn in the view of fishing it in 10 minutes.
First drop in down my left, the float slid under and I missed it. I lifted and dropped it back in again. It shot under again, I did get a little excited until a skimmer about 2lb popped up. I didn’t bother feeding again and just lowered my rig in again with another pellet. A couple of minutes later it vanished again and this time I was into a carp, this was about 4lb and safely deposited in my keep net. I fed it and went back to 8 metres. A few more skimmers in the net and some small carp were welcome. I was now hoping to add a couple of decent carp from down the edge in the last 15. I lowered in my rig and waited; I then lowered it down the shelf and dragged It up. The float shot under and a carp shot off into the middle of the lake as I held on, minutes later a 6 pounder just lay in front of me on the surface. What a puff! 5 minutes to go I hooked another about 4 pound. I knew I had won the lakes easily, but the canal had fished well. Scott smith had banged 42lb on the scales and I was doubtful that I had that much. My clicker was saying 33lb. Keith and Dave arrived with the scales as my dad weighed in 22lb behind me. My first weigh with carp went 33lb, I needed 5lb in my silvers net for the 2nd prize, I never thought I had 10lb of skimmers though! I weighed a total of 43lb 6oz for the win.
Cob House – 18 fished
13/03/2010
Bob Baker organised an open on island at Cob House on the island pool so me and my mate James banged our names down for it. After an early start (which I aint keen on!!) I picked the main man James up at 7.15 sharp. After loading my car to the brim we made our way to Moorlands for breakfast, which we were way too early for so service food it was! 2 bacon buttys and a thick bloke who served us and we were on our way. Don’t get me wrong cob house is a great fishery but its just in the middle of no where and ages to drive!
We got on the car park with time to spare so we paid our moneys and unloaded. I drew peg 25 which meant nothing to me and James was on 20 up the corner. I had a nice clear island chuck so that was the first thing I set up. The sun was bright as you like and I was in my bloody t-shirt! (for 20 minutes anyway). I decided on a simple attack of pellet cone up the island, 16 metre pole and 6 metre pole.
Tip rod was again a signum medium feeder with 6lb maxima main line and a 0.18 Silstar hooklength to a 16 QM1 hook with a hair. 16m pole rig was a 4x16 chimp for in 7 foot of water with 0.14 Silstar main and a 0.12 hooklength matched to a 16 Gamma pellet hook. Elastic was a number 12 slip. My 6 metre rig was the same.
At the all in I cupped in 25 feed pellets along with some hookers, maggots and a pinch of corn. The 6 metre line was fed with just corn, about 30 grains. With a cone made up I lobbed it tight to the island (I could chuck it into a pole cup at 50 metres James!). It took about 20 minutes for my first indication with an eventual wrap round my first plump carp about 4lb was in the net. I chucked it straight back in, filling the smallest Guru cone with pellet. 20 minutes later I didn’t have an indication so I cupped in 20 pellets and a bit of corn via my cad pot and shipped out to 16m baited with a 4mm hooker pellet. I had the odd sign but no fish to show for a 20 minute spell. 6 metres was just as quiet. I eventually lifted into a slight dip on the float at 16m and carp number 2 was in the net. It was now 12.30 and it was looking grim, I did however manage to slip the net under another small carp from the 16 metre line. I re-fed both my pole lines and threw my tip rod towards the island and the rope holding the aerator. This cast was even better than my others, inch perfect I may add! Within 2 minutes the rod violently ripped off the rest and made a dart under the rope. I was fishing heavy so I just pulled hard and hoped for the best. After a tussle under the rope I netted a decent carp. Next cast no bit again. At this point the lad to my right was sacking at 14 metres. I decided to chuck the rod up the bank and try and make my long pole line work. I began to have the odd skimmer and some more carp fishing pellet an inch over feeding very light with a CAD pot. The last hour was the best managing a fish every put in. All out was called and I knew I hadn’t beat bob or the lad to my right. Bob weighed 50lb odd, Ashley had 37lb and I weighed a decent 31 lb 8oz. Trevor Hodges ounced me for third place but I still managed my section money.
Willow Marsh
6/3/2010 – 20 fished
BACK TO IT!
If any of you follow my blog, I haven’t been out for donkeys! I was itching for the weather to pick up and give me the urge to get back fishing.
Well for my first visit I decided to go to Willow Marsh where a lot of my mates had been fishing. The weather was mild but not the best. I had never fished the place before but hope for a good draw and a few fish. I pulled out peg 37 and didn’t fancy it from the start. Every peg along my bank was in, but the ‘flier’ pegs had room either side! After plenty of moaning to Gary I started to set up my gear. The plan was to fish the lead for a few mug fish then the pole at 14 metres for the remainder of the match and maybe pick a few fish up at 6 metres.
Rig wise I used a Trabucco signum medium feeder rod, Shimano Stradic loaded with 6lb maxima and a 0.18 Silstar hooklength to a 16 Drennan feeder hook. On my pole I fished a 4x14 Chimp in 4.5 foot of water. This was on 0.14 mainline to a 0.12 hooklength of Silstar matched with a 16 Gamma pellet hook. My 6 metres line was the same but with a 4x12 float in 3.5 foot of water.
For bait I had half a pint of 4mm feed pellet, some hookers and a tin of corn also a bit of meat for on the hook. At the all in I fed my pole lines and made my first cast of the year with double corn and waited…and waited…..and waited!
Finally after 50 minutes I had my first indication, then the tip flew round a carp about 4lb lay in my net. I quickly re-baited with a 8mm cube of meat and was straight back out, no soon as it settled it was yanked off the rest! SOLID!!! From this point on though I never had any indication on the lead or the pole!
Come 2 o clock I packed up and went to the gym! Great to be back or what!
20/03/2010 – 17 fished
Keith plagued me Wednesday about not coming Saturday because I was scared of Nev, so with a bit of form coming back I hit Hillview. After yet another bang on breakfast I wanted any peg with the wind off my back. 27 was my location for the day…With Nev on the next peg 29! Talk about pressure! The rain started as soon as I set up which I wasn’t happy with but I quickly set up my hoards of rigs! I planned on the same attack as Wednesday as I knew it was worth a few fish. I also set up 2 shallow rigs as I thought it may be worth a few odd cruising ghosties. Rigs were the same as Wednesday, shallow rigs were 4x10 chimps.
At the all in I fed my long line with about 50 4mm pellets, some hookers and a little bit of corn. The same was deposited on my 2 8 metre lines. For the first 45 minutes I was completely roached out on every bait and every line. I was pulling my hair out. I did lose 2 carp which I think were foul hooked. I noticed a floating weed about 15 metres out and carp were gobbing it so I quickly grabbed my shallow rig and lowered a pellet in about 2 foot deep right beside it and it buried! A nice 4lb carp in the net. I did exactly the same thing again except I had to swing the rig as the weed was floating out, it buried again and carp number two was in. The weed had then gone so I just lowered it in at 16 metres and managed another mug carp. It then went quiet and I was back getting pestered with roach. At 12 o clock I decided to start pinging pellets at 14 metres and sitting on a shallow rig, I had a dog roach first cast then a pest roach next cast. 5 minutes later I was into a carp and buzzing! I was feeding just 4 pellets every 30 seconds or so and lifting and dropping regularly. I had a golden hour and I was now well in with a chance. The rain then started again at 1.30 ish and that was that shallow! L
My 8 metre lines were devoid, so I went back to 14 metres on the deck still pinging and just nicking skimmers, roach and the odd small carp. Soon this slowed up though and I fed my margin. I tried shallow just dopping a pellet all over the swim which resulted in 3 carp in the shadows. Then nothing. So with 45 to go I persevered with my edges (which I had nothing from) and my 8 metre line were I was now just feeding corn by hand. I put some chunky skimmers and a few small carp in the net to maintain my lead.
At the all out I knew I had just about held on to it as Nev got better in the last hour. I must add he was unfortunate to break his pole before the match so couldn’t fish shallow past 8 metres. No, I didn’t break it! 26lb was the best weight till Nev, then he tipped 40lb on the scales which then I weighed 54lb. Another win in the bag making it 2 on the bounce and 3 pick ups! Result! Roll on Saturday.
Hillview Lakes
17/03/2010 – 20 fished
I finally decided to venture back to my home turf Hillview. My dad had been cleaning up on a Wednesday winning 5 on the trot at one point (all from good pegs!) so I was eager to be back and give him a slapping. After a nice breakfast, which I had missed, nowhere does a breakky like Hillview! 20 chaps had turned up for this (obviously they need to get real jobs the lucky gits!) and I was in for the draw…. I pulled out 37 on heron which had won the previous Wednesday so I was hoping they were still there. My dad was behind me on peg 6 which was a decent peg. Keith had pegged it bang on with 7 on the canal and the rest split between the 2 lakes LOADSA ROOM!
I decided on my normal Hillview winter plan which was long pole with pellet, 2 short lines about 8 metres and 2 edges. Bait wise I had pellet and corn. My long line at 14 metres was a 4x16 chimp to counter the wind in 5 foot of water. This was on 0.14 to 0.12 line finished off with a 16 gamma pellet. This was a simple bulk of number 8’s and 2 number 10 dropper shot. 8 metres rigs were the same but with 4x14 chimps. Edge rigs were also the same but with 4x12 chimps. I do say edge, but I was fishing at least 2 metres from the banks at the bottom of the shelf as the water was still quite clear. Elastic wise, all my rigs were on 12 Preston slip. Simple stuff.
At the all in I fed my 14 metre line first with about 20 dampened 4mm feed pellets and a few grains of corn and some sample hook pellets. On the 8 metre lines I fed a small cone of pellet on both lines. Margin lines were left until a least 12 o’clock.
I waited 40 minutes for my first fish which was a small stocky carp; at this point my dad had had 3 carp of a decent size! He is the nuts! I went back in again but failed to get a bite. I fed it and left it. Dropping in at 8m resulted in a skimmer first cast, followed by a run of them without topping up. I re-fed and left it as I didn’t want to fish it out to soon. On the right hand line I had a decent carp about 4lb. this mid part of the match I rotated between the 2 lines picking up odd fish. The long line was devoid of fish apart from one ghostie about 4lb which was a welcome bonus. Come 2 o’clock with 2 hours left I fed my edges with a bit of corn and a few pellet and continued a good run on my 8 metre lines. I could not get any fish on corn though, everything was falling to pellet. I could also only nick about 2 fish from each line before changing to the other. I was catching a fish, feeding that line, changing to the other line and the same process. Fifteen minutes later I fed my edges again with about 20 pellets and 2 grains of corn in the view of fishing it in 10 minutes.
First drop in down my left, the float slid under and I missed it. I lifted and dropped it back in again. It shot under again, I did get a little excited until a skimmer about 2lb popped up. I didn’t bother feeding again and just lowered my rig in again with another pellet. A couple of minutes later it vanished again and this time I was into a carp, this was about 4lb and safely deposited in my keep net. I fed it and went back to 8 metres. A few more skimmers in the net and some small carp were welcome. I was now hoping to add a couple of decent carp from down the edge in the last 15. I lowered in my rig and waited; I then lowered it down the shelf and dragged It up. The float shot under and a carp shot off into the middle of the lake as I held on, minutes later a 6 pounder just lay in front of me on the surface. What a puff! 5 minutes to go I hooked another about 4 pound. I knew I had won the lakes easily, but the canal had fished well. Scott smith had banged 42lb on the scales and I was doubtful that I had that much. My clicker was saying 33lb. Keith and Dave arrived with the scales as my dad weighed in 22lb behind me. My first weigh with carp went 33lb, I needed 5lb in my silvers net for the 2nd prize, I never thought I had 10lb of skimmers though! I weighed a total of 43lb 6oz for the win.
Cob House – 18 fished
13/03/2010
Bob Baker organised an open on island at Cob House on the island pool so me and my mate James banged our names down for it. After an early start (which I aint keen on!!) I picked the main man James up at 7.15 sharp. After loading my car to the brim we made our way to Moorlands for breakfast, which we were way too early for so service food it was! 2 bacon buttys and a thick bloke who served us and we were on our way. Don’t get me wrong cob house is a great fishery but its just in the middle of no where and ages to drive!
We got on the car park with time to spare so we paid our moneys and unloaded. I drew peg 25 which meant nothing to me and James was on 20 up the corner. I had a nice clear island chuck so that was the first thing I set up. The sun was bright as you like and I was in my bloody t-shirt! (for 20 minutes anyway). I decided on a simple attack of pellet cone up the island, 16 metre pole and 6 metre pole.
Tip rod was again a signum medium feeder with 6lb maxima main line and a 0.18 Silstar hooklength to a 16 QM1 hook with a hair. 16m pole rig was a 4x16 chimp for in 7 foot of water with 0.14 Silstar main and a 0.12 hooklength matched to a 16 Gamma pellet hook. Elastic was a number 12 slip. My 6 metre rig was the same.
At the all in I cupped in 25 feed pellets along with some hookers, maggots and a pinch of corn. The 6 metre line was fed with just corn, about 30 grains. With a cone made up I lobbed it tight to the island (I could chuck it into a pole cup at 50 metres James!). It took about 20 minutes for my first indication with an eventual wrap round my first plump carp about 4lb was in the net. I chucked it straight back in, filling the smallest Guru cone with pellet. 20 minutes later I didn’t have an indication so I cupped in 20 pellets and a bit of corn via my cad pot and shipped out to 16m baited with a 4mm hooker pellet. I had the odd sign but no fish to show for a 20 minute spell. 6 metres was just as quiet. I eventually lifted into a slight dip on the float at 16m and carp number 2 was in the net. It was now 12.30 and it was looking grim, I did however manage to slip the net under another small carp from the 16 metre line. I re-fed both my pole lines and threw my tip rod towards the island and the rope holding the aerator. This cast was even better than my others, inch perfect I may add! Within 2 minutes the rod violently ripped off the rest and made a dart under the rope. I was fishing heavy so I just pulled hard and hoped for the best. After a tussle under the rope I netted a decent carp. Next cast no bit again. At this point the lad to my right was sacking at 14 metres. I decided to chuck the rod up the bank and try and make my long pole line work. I began to have the odd skimmer and some more carp fishing pellet an inch over feeding very light with a CAD pot. The last hour was the best managing a fish every put in. All out was called and I knew I hadn’t beat bob or the lad to my right. Bob weighed 50lb odd, Ashley had 37lb and I weighed a decent 31 lb 8oz. Trevor Hodges ounced me for third place but I still managed my section money.
Willow Marsh
6/3/2010 – 20 fished
BACK TO IT!
If any of you follow my blog, I haven’t been out for donkeys! I was itching for the weather to pick up and give me the urge to get back fishing.
Well for my first visit I decided to go to Willow Marsh where a lot of my mates had been fishing. The weather was mild but not the best. I had never fished the place before but hope for a good draw and a few fish. I pulled out peg 37 and didn’t fancy it from the start. Every peg along my bank was in, but the ‘flier’ pegs had room either side! After plenty of moaning to Gary I started to set up my gear. The plan was to fish the lead for a few mug fish then the pole at 14 metres for the remainder of the match and maybe pick a few fish up at 6 metres.
Rig wise I used a Trabucco signum medium feeder rod, Shimano Stradic loaded with 6lb maxima and a 0.18 Silstar hooklength to a 16 Drennan feeder hook. On my pole I fished a 4x14 Chimp in 4.5 foot of water. This was on 0.14 mainline to a 0.12 hooklength of Silstar matched with a 16 Gamma pellet hook. My 6 metres line was the same but with a 4x12 float in 3.5 foot of water.
For bait I had half a pint of 4mm feed pellet, some hookers and a tin of corn also a bit of meat for on the hook. At the all in I fed my pole lines and made my first cast of the year with double corn and waited…and waited…..and waited!
Finally after 50 minutes I had my first indication, then the tip flew round a carp about 4lb lay in my net. I quickly re-baited with a 8mm cube of meat and was straight back out, no soon as it settled it was yanked off the rest! SOLID!!! From this point on though I never had any indication on the lead or the pole!
Come 2 o clock I packed up and went to the gym! Great to be back or what!
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