By Patrick | No Comments
Last updated: Thursday, March 19, 2009

With what has seamed the longest winter in memory and the fishing being the poorest I can remember, things were on the up as thankfully spring seamed to be on its way and most of the venues I fish, the fish were waking up from there winter slumbers. Today was the 4th leg of the Teams of 3 at Rolfs lake near Oxfordshire, and I must admit I couldn’t wait  to fish as I had only managed to get out once in the last 3 weeks,  also an added bonus was it my turn for the best section.

I had a little warm up the previous Wednesday winning a small knock up with nearly 90lbs, catching mainly on the straight lead, or the pole at 13 metres, this was what I decided I would base my attack on for the teams of 3 match.  The pegs I thought would win the section were either 10 or 13, as a big bush sits in the water between these pegs which obviously holds a lot of fish. Things didn’t quite go to plan as these were the first 2 pegs drawn in the section and I was left with peg 14, not a bad draw but it was a peg I had never fished before, but realistically I didn’t expect to be able to compete with these 2 pegs.

I decided to base my plan on what I learnt in the small knock up, this was the straight lead fishing the pellet cone with hair rigged corn at 20 metres, a line at 13 metres and a line against the bush to my right hand margin. Tackle wise it was my Daiwa 10ft Connoisseur Bomb Rod, 6lb mainline through to 0.17 hooklength with a Drennan Carp Feeder hook and Korum Quick Stop. On the pole it was black hydro, MW 0.4g tapered diamond, 0.16 hooklength and a Kamassan B911 size 16. For the margin it was red hydro, MW slim power 0.17 hooklength and a Tubertini 175 size 14. Baitwise I had some soaked 4mm pellets, normal 4mm pellet, corn, and some GOT bait 6mm expanders.

On the all in, I put some pellet and corn on the 13m and margin line and I would start on the lead to give these lines a chance to settle. Straight away I was getting indications on the lead and eventually the tip went round and number one was on it’s way. Looking round the lake, nobody seamed to be setting the world alight so with a few fish blowing on my 13m line I decided to try the pole. First put in and number 2 was on its way, and the next put in I foul hooked a fish which I managed to land despite it doing a best impression of a dolphin round the lake. Despite these 2 fish and having refed I couldn’t manage another bite, so it was back on the lead. I managed a quick 2 fish on this and the anglers opposite me on 23,24, and 26 were starting to catch well, though I was relieved these pegs were not in my section.

With the lead and 13 metre line not being as prolific as I was lookng for, with only 2 hours left I decided to try my margin as I had steadily kept it fed since the start of the match. I managed four fish on the bounce, but unfortuately there was only one weigher over 10lb, the rest were small in comparison to most of the fish in Rolfs. To keep bites coming I had to rest this line and then take a fish of it, refeed it and then either fish the lead or pole at 13 metres. I managed to catch a couple more down the edge before the all out was sounded but I felt I hadn’t done enough to beat the pegs opposite me as my fish were of a small stamp by Rolfs standards.

At the weigh in I recorded 89lb, enough for third in my section behind the two pegs I thought would do well peg 10 and 13. Overall peg 24 won it opposite me with 160lb, with my weight being good enough for 5th overall.

With my knowlege gained from the Teams of three match, I decided to book in for midweek open at Rolfs. Pegwise I drew peg 22 which was an end peg. For company I had fishery owner Jon Bennet in the next peg, so this was sure to be test of the knowlege I had gained since I started fishing here. My setups were exactly the same as Sunday, but I had brought some luncheon meat with me as a change to the normal corn and pellet hookbaits.

I started on the straight lead fishing the pellet cone casting to the bushes that run alongside Peg 19. I didn’t even get an indications and by now Jon was three fish in front of me. I decided I had to change what I was doing and try slow Jon down as I didn’t want him to get to far ahead. The first 2 put ins I had 2 fish so at least we were of the mark and Jon was at least slowing down a little. As the same as Sunday catching 2 fish of this line seamed to slow it right down, so it was back on the lead, though I decided to cast in front of peg 18 as alot of fish were moving in this area.  First chuck with the lead and we were off and then I had another one straight away, both fish going 12lb plus, at least I was starting to whittle away Jon’s lead as he had stopped catching. By alternating the pole at 13 metres and straight lead I managed a couple more and decided I had to try the margin I had fed since the start.By kinder potting a small pot of micros and corn for every fish, I managed to take another eight fish of this line, all on meat with the largest going 14lb, but the majority of them were small again.

Overall I took approximately 15 fish for 108lb, this was good enough for second overall with the added bonus of beating Jon of the next peg with the winner coming from peg 31 with 169lbs.

Well this will be the last chance I have to update my blog for the next couple of weeks as I will be away fishing the Dynamite Baits festival at Whiteacres commencing the week after next. Having never seen the place before, I am sure it will be a steep learning curve fishing against some of the best anglers in the country but I must admit I can’t wait.

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