Preston Innovations Festival 2008

Well its that time of the year again when anglers from all over the country make the pilgrimage to carp fishing mecca White Acres, id been looking forward and preparing for this festival for months and was hoping I could qualify for the Parkdean Masters. I was staying with preston’s Lee Kerry and Ben Fisk from the Angling Times and we were sure to have a good week regardless of the quality of the fishing. Joining us was Adam Richards and his dad, James Dent and Ash Clements along with Andy Geldart and Paul ‘budgie’ Burton so our drinking crew was sorted!

Anyway on the Saturday I picked Ben up at about 4.15am ready for the 6 hour drive, we wanted to have a good afternoon session on Pollawyn to try and catch a few skimmers and hopefully get a few things sorted. Anyway it was raining and blowing a gale, hardly ideal for an afternoon session! I fished for an hour and caught a few fish before getting fed up so I decided to sit with Lee and Ben instead. Lee learnt some interesting things, but then again he had Alan Scotthorne watching his everymove so he was bound to learn a bit of stuff!

We decided to go and meet up with everyone in the club for a few jars which turned into a lot of jars and a ‘hefty’ night in new quay. On the Sunday we decided to have a steady day and maybe an afternoon session on twin oaks to have a go on the feeder. I had a walk around the site with Adam and Denty and there wasn’t very much getting caught at all! But at about 1pm we decided we best have a go, Lee was already there grafting it out. Anyway we could only get on the early pegs and we couldn’t get a bite! Anyway me and Adam just had a mess about catching a few roach, I felt with a couple of bonus carp 50lb would be possible, which would be brilliant from that end but still probably wouldn’t be that good! I was set for Twin Oaks, Trelawney and Python on day one so I spent the evening getting ready, well 10 mins then went up to the pub for a late one again!!

I got up nice and early and got my bait sorted, the lakes where a bit of an unknown quantity especially Trelawney as I think that hasn’t been fished much lately due to the venues problems. At the draw I was delighted to draw peg 18 on Trelawney!!!!! I drew that in the Dynamite and did well so I really fancied it for a few fish. I decided on 2 units of 4mm pellets and 2 units of 6mm pellets and 2 of casters and 2 of dynamite xl corn, I decided to kinder pot pellets to the island and fish corn at 4m and down the edge with casters and corn. I set two rigs up for across one for 2 foot and the other for 10 inches tight across, the shallowest on 0.16 direct with a Carpa Shelf and an 18 PR36 with Preston 13h elastic and the deeper one with a 4×12 carpa carbon shelf on 0.16 and 13h. For 4m I set up a 4×14 preston PB20 on 0.16 main line and a 0.14 hooklength with an 18 B911 so I could just nick the corn on. This was matched to a green vespe hollow.

Down the edge I fished a 4×12 Carpa Roc on 0.18 to 0.16 with a 16 hook and black hydro. At the all in I threw 3 bits of corn at 4m and a few bits down the side and shipped half a kinder pot of 4mm and 6mm pellets across and just gauge the response, the response was fairly good as a 10lber lay in my landing net after a minute!

I had 3-4 carp before things went a bit weird and they just wouldn’t settle anywhere , I tried shallow right across etc but couldn’t come up with any answers so decided to give it a rest and try my 4m line. The instant my corn hook bait touched the bottom it shot under with a 4lber but that was it, this set a pattern for the 4m line as what would happen is you would feed it for 15-20 mins have a drop and catch a big fish instantly then nothing and you had to re-build the swim again, I was happy with this though as they where big fish on the line. Anyway the fish finally settled on my island swim and I plundered them steadily, the fish in Trelawney are unbelievably fit and gave everyones elastic a good stretching!

I thought I was doing well as Des Shipp at my next peg to my left wasn’t catching as much and even had spells fishing for silvers. At the all out I was dead pleased with 126lb and a section win, which got my campaign off to the perfect start, I also won the match so got a nice £270 to get the ball rolling. So a night in the pub was definitely in order as it was hard work fishing 16m in the wind all day!!!!

On day 2 I was heading to Trewaters and drew peg 41 with Alan Scotthorne on 39 and Phil Ringer on the corner peg, so I knew id have my work cut out. Eric Yeomans had 19lb for 4th in section off it the day before so I thought there was some fish in the area. After a chat with Alan I noticed he had set up a long line rig as the wind was off his back, the wind was slightly different in my peg so I ruled it out but I knew deep down that he would catch on it. I plumbed all over the peg and was amazed at how well dug the lake was, it was like a snooker table!!!! I kept this in mind if I needed to start some new swims during the match, anyway Lee had been on the venue the day before and didn’t catch short to start with so I decided to start at 13m and potted in a tiny pinch of micros and started with a 4mm dynamite xl expander on the hook and was straight into small f1s and tench, a quick look to my left saw the lad to my left catching at 5m and alan playing a lump from 5m!!!! Oh!!!!

I decided to feed a 5m swim and I caught straight away, and was probably catching better than everyone but knew that alan had caught that 4lber whereas everyone else was catching 3oz f1s and tench!!!! Anyway after a few fish it dried up and I noticed the same happened for everyone so I went back to 13m and caught steadily again but it was getting slower all the time and I noticed Alan starting to sack on his long lining rig, I tried the waggler and had a few fish but the cross wind made presentation difficult so I sacked it. I decided to start a couple more pole swims up, I kicked these off with a tiny nugget of dynamite baits green swim stim and a few micros and hoped this would gather a few fish, it worked a treat and by rotating 3 lines I kept a steady stream of fish right to the end. Alan weighed a brilliant 43lb to win the match and phil ringer had 36lb from the corner so I was pleased with my 20lb and 3rd in section.

I actually really enjoyed it as you had to be on your toes all the time instead of just sitting on a line. I also got the section money by default.

On day 3 I was to go to Porth and it was an absolutely gorgeous day and I always look forward to Porth as its just such a nice place to fish!!!! I drew peg 83, lee had won the section off 82 the day before on the feeder so I was pleased with that. But as I was walking round I realised we were on the section of doom! Des Shipp was on end peg 89, phil ringer was on the other end peg, Gary Hamilton was to my right and Danny Ashington was to my left. The other anglers were also festival regulars who do well on the venue so I’d have my work cut out. I pretty much decided to concentrate on the feeder, but also set the pole up but decided to feed it mega positive with worms to try and catch a few skimmers.

My mix for the day was 2 bags of Dynamite Green Swim Stim, 2 bags of Dynamite Method Mix which is lovely and fine but also very fluffy, and a bag of Silver X Sweet Bream, this produces a lovely fishmeal mix with a sweet hint also that seems to work very well. I set up my Garbolino Super G 11ft feeder rod with a large TDR reel and 0.08 braid with a 6lb shocker, and an 0.12 hook length with a 16 b560. I also set 3 rigs for the pole, a 0.8gr browning nevis and a 1.5gr nevis the heavier one intended for skimmers with some line on the bottom. Both with a 6 elastic. I also set up my spaz bar so that I could keep my rigs dead still bang on my cupped in feed, this is so important as what looks like your holding it still sometimes isn’t and u tend to let the rig go slightly with the tow. But with the spaz bar you can nail it and be 100% sure its still.

At the start I kicked off by cupping 6 balls of mix at 14.5m and a big cup of worms and casters. I then started on a single maggot on the feeder and set about my match with a medium feeder instead of chucking several large feederfulls in. I had bites right from the start and was catching well, danny to my left had gone on the pole after 30 mins on the feeder and seemed to be catching well. Out of interest I had a drop on the pole and missed a couple of bites and caught a few roach but decided to try and stick it out on the feeder. I had a bite just about every cast and caught loads of small skimmers in the 2-4oz bracket but couldn’t get and better fish, so instead of gambling with larger baits I decided to just get my head down on red maggot or small redworm hook baits and a small feeder. At the all out I’d had about 80 fish and was well chuffed with my 10lb 14oz, Danny had 5lb and Gary had 10lb 2oz so I’d beaten either side. Unfortunately Phil beat me by 4oz and the lad next to des had 14lb with Des paralysing it with 29lb of small pole caught skimmers!!!! An awesome performance. I was still pleased with my 4th and it kept me in the top 20 and I felt just one more good draw in the last two days would hopefully be enough.

I was gutted then to draw peg 37 on Bolingey! Callum Dicks and Grant Albutt had both caught less than 20lb off it and Stevie Richards, one of our gang had the best weight off it so far with 22lb so I wasn’t best pleased! Still I knew what I had to do, so I decided to try and fish as far out from the corner as possible and this meant fishing 17.5m out to my right, I also fed a swim at 14m up the bank into the corner a meat swim at 5m and a swim down my right hand margin. I also set a bomb rod up as my plan was to go on the long pole at the start and if it didn’t go, to just chuck the bomb about, I thought if I could catch 3-4 carp going into the last hour I may have a chance as I knew id catch a few in the last hour. Anyway 2 hours in id had 3 roach! Not good, so I decided to just chuck a bomb around and hope for the best. After another biteless hour I finally had a pull and landed an 8lb mirror. Another 30 minutes went by biteless, so I decided to sack the bomb and fish the pole swims that id kept primed for the last 90 mins.

After a while I had a little indication into the corner and then had a carp about 8lb, I had 2 more before it just faded I then snared one at 5m but no more bites followed, so I went to my right hand swim and had a couple more before the all out was called. I was pleased with my 43lb but it just wasn’t any good!!! Gary Hamilton was to my right again and weighed 45lb including the weeks biggest fish of 19lb! that’s handy when its hard! I wasn’t last though! I was totally gutted though as I was to be on Pollawyn on the final day which was as peggy as hell and I either wanted the best peg on the high bank or avoid that section altogether.

I was once again gutted to draw peg 30 which is just to far up the bank and just into the arm, I knew I needed to win my section so decided to fish the bomb for most of the day and fish a 5m meat line and a 14.5m meat swim, I just felt that my only chances of beating the good pegs on the high bank was an early and late run of fish on the bomb!!! Once again I hadn’t had a knock after 2 hours and the lads to my left were catching. Tony Wynnick was to my left and had snared one but was also unable to get any signs and the lad to my right hadn’t had a sign either. We were doomed!!!! Then on one cast I was just tightening my line with my fingers and I got a big bite and I played a foul hooked carp of about 7lb, unfortunately apart from a few skimmers that was the last of the action!I weighed a measly 8lb something, the lad to my right had 11lb of skimmers and tony had 2 carp for 13lb.Then from peg 28 back towards the early numbers they all had between 30 and 60lb!

At the night do I was absolutely made up for Adam making the final and Geldart and Budgie also, but I was also gutted that the two bad draws had cost me. The only thing left to do was go and get wasted in Newquay, the mob for the night was myself, Matt Pillay, Denty, Ash and fisky so we were sure for a good night. Matt is brilliant as all he wants is for you to have a good night so your never short of drinks with him especially shots!!!! Although I was a bit disturbed when he found a box of chicken on the way home and ate the lot!

Anyway after getting in at around 5.30 it dawned on me that we needed to tidy the caravan, so I was up at 8 doing the washing up etc while Fisky was out cold ha ha. Me and Adam decided to stay an extra night as he was fishing the final and I really wanted to stay and watch it. Anyway Adam drew peg 21 and when I was sat with him before the start I just sat and watched the wind and the fish topping and said you’ll never have a better chance and I could see how up for it he was!!!!!

Adam fished such an awesome match and was really unlucky to be beaten by Adam Wakelin. In my opinion Adam Richards was the best angler on the bank and really deserved it. So Adam was well up for another night out and we decided to go for a quiet pint at about 5 o clock then get changed ready for out, we were still out at 10 and then decided to get changed and order a taxi. We decided to raid Denty and Ash’s lodge for some cans and set about a heavy night. And a good one was had by all!!!! We crashed in Tom Scholey’s caravan, the night was not without drama however as Tom managed to lose his car keys in some nightclub. The question on everyones lips was why the hell he had his keys with him but hey. We decided to leave at around 1 so had a quick go on Dentys gear ready for off. It was a nightmare though with the traffic but we got home safe with plenty of laughs had and plenty of red bull drank!!!!

Even though the fishing was really hard at times I still had an awesome week in brilliant company and I cant wait for the next festival in the spring!!!!