Back On The Bank!

I have to confess, I failed miserably in my attempt to have a month off from fishing. I did manage just over two weeks though but the urge was just too strong. The final push came when Wayne ‘Wrong Lake’ and ‘Tourettes’ Taylor kept calling me on the phone asking if I was going to the Mawgan Porth Wednesday open, in the end I just couldn’t resist! For some reason not many had booked in but it was chance to get back on the bank and I was really looking forward to it. I would have preferred a decent sized match but a small sweep would do for now. The idea of a break was to get my gear back in some kind of order but on Wednesday morning I found myself looking at my tackle for the first time and making rigs and tying hooks before I set off!

I was running late again and phoned to confirm I was coming, as I drove into the car park I was told that I had drawn peg 40 and I have to admit that set me off on one! I couldn’t understand for the life of me why that peg had been put in when so few were fishing. Janet was adamant that it was a good peg and that pleasure anglers had been catching well on it. My view was that I stuck in a corner and if the fish were not there I would be completely out of it before I started. I eventually got to the peg and after a short while calmed down. I had to reflect as to why I was on the bank, and the answer was that I was there to enjoy the day out! I go match fishing because I enjoy the sport and moaning and groaning about it should just not happen especially before the start! I had to follow some of my own advice ‘Mustn’t grumble!’

Blowing a Hooley

The wind was blowing into my corner and it was quite strong which really made an up in the water approach out of the question but I still set up a rig just in case!  My main lines were going to be at an angle in front of me at 3m facing towards peg 8 and down into my little corner by the Bulrushes. I wish I had made a couple of heavier rigs up as my normal 4 x 10 J3 float was skimming through the water a heavier float may just have given me a little more control. I had plenty of 4mm fishery pellets with me along with some 6mm hookers and a couple of pints of garlic micros.

The match started and would you believe I was into a carp within seconds, Tourettes leading the chorus of friendly abuse! That quietened as everybody started catching. There were plenty of fish in my swim and I was trying desperately to thin them out! They really wanted to be up in the water as I was foul hooking quite a lot and getting loads of indications on the float. I experimented with feed and depth but it didn’t change anything. Even though it was difficult with the wind I tried my normal tactic of going down the edge and feeding further out where I hoped to catch shallow later.

Gardening?

There were fish down the edge and I was catching next to some pondweed but after 30mins or so the hooked fish had disturbed the weed, it was then that I realised it was floating weed and not attached to the bank, it was really getting in the way so I scooped it out with the landing net. I then went onto the longer line hoping to get them shallow. Two fish in two puts really gave me hope, but that was dashed as it was wait a bit and then catch one, wait some more catch two, it was just too slow I figured the fish didn’t really want to be up in the strong ripple. I tried on the deck over the same line and had a few but again started to get too many indications and foul hooked fish which I hate to do, I just could not find a depth that they would feed comfortably at, shame it was just too windy!

The Redruth Pixie

Time was passing on and there was plenty of fish colouring up my margin so it was time to concentrate down the edge. I had a couple but often my float was just sitting there motionless amongst loads of fish, very infuriating when they will not take the bait! I could see that Wrong Lake was having the same problem on peg 6 as the fish were literally boiling in his peg! The only person that seemed to have it sorted was Nigel Taylor aka Tourettes who was catching on his top section. I found myself watching his technique for a moment and with that I had bit of a chuckle. Wayne asked what was going on and I told him I could just picture a very naughty Cornish Pixie with a very short cane and string bending over swearing at the fish as he tried to catch them! We laughed with him for a moment but I must admit that he is very good at that close margin fishing.

Pasting

I knew that the dollop would sort my swim out but I had not made up a rig for that but it had to be done. I had some Yorkshire Bait green betaine with me and quickly made it up into a paste as well as adapting a rig to fish the paste. A quick plumb and I was away. It worked a treat at times there was no need to strike as the carp were hooking themselves! I also realised that I had made a schoolboy error, and that was not rechecking the depth when I moved that floating weed.  I had inadvertently moved closer to the bank and it was shallower, what a numpty!  Never mind the paste was working and when that slowed I caught on the pellet on a slightly shallower rig!

The whistle went as I was playing my 112 fish; it had been great getting back even though it was only a short break. I figured that Tourettes was just in front and when he shouted over that he had 125 I knew that I was beaten, there is no way that I can compete with that style of close fishing as my back cannot take it, I enjoy my style and now cannot wait for the next time, hopefully the fish will be further away from the bank.

Close again

I was really surprised when my fish weighed 183lb 11oz the fish seem to be packing on a bit of weight. That naughty pixie just shaded it with 192lb 15oz and he was left wondering if he will ever break the 200lb barrier! That is the third time he has failed by a few fish! I had to remind him to try a little harder next time! Don’t worry Nigel it will happen and after the first, I am sure you will push for the 300lb club. As I left the venue I had to apologise to Janet, her choice of pegs was fine on the day and with a little more thought it could have been a winning peg.

Sunday Fun

I very nearly got to Milemead on Sunday but that match had to be cancelled as only 8 had booked in so I ended up at Gwinear for a 20 pegger. I’m glad I did as I cleared a few gremlins from my mind, had a laugh and picked up some coin to boot!

The weather was perfect a slight breeze and sunny, completely different from the howling wind and rain of the previous day. I was near the front of the queue when Chris Hancock held out the bag of dreams. I had my dip and out came peg 6 on phase 1. Now I know this is a good draw but for some reason or other cannot get on with this lake, so I was not sure what to think. I was still looking at the peg when Chris asked what I had drawn, I showed him and big grin came on his face ‘My favourite peg on the complex, I’ll swop you’ he joked. Even if we could have swopped pegs, I was soon pleased that I hadn’t as a couple of minutes later I asked Chris where he had drawn; he said he didn’t have a peg! Between himself and the other match organiser Tony Williams they had not put enough pegs in! There was a bit of banter flying around between them with Chris having the last word saying that he hoped Tony fell in!

Too much choice!

I got to my peg with over an hour to set up and I needed it as there is really so much you can try on this peg. In the end I settled on an edge rig to the corner to my left an edge rig at 13m also to my left along the bank. An up in the water rig for fishing at 14.5m as there were some carp crashing around shallow. A straight lead / feeder and finally I finished off with a 5m line where I assembled two rigs to fish the paste and pellet, that was enough for anyone person! I was in good company on the lake with Paul Carpenter next door on peg 5 and John Hetherington on peg 1 We also had Wayne ‘Wrong Lake’ on peg 4, we all made sure he was on the correct peg as there are three lakes at this venue!

As the start drew closer I was trying to work out in my mind on my opening gambit. It was either feeder to the far bank or pole shallow. In the end the pole won the verdict as there were carp crashing about. I fed my 5m line and the margins and was out shallow. An hour in and I realised that I had made the wrong choice! I had precisely 1 small F1, 1 small tench 1 big roach and a lost skimmer to show for my efforts! The next hour was a little better on the 5m line I put around 10lb in the net which comprised of skimmers and small tench. A few more F1’s on the shallow rig but sadly no indications on either edge swim, the 5m line was slowing and it left me scratching my head.

Back on track

John Hetherington brought me to my senses when he asked what was happening and we discovered that he had five carp! With none in my net I did what I should have done at the start and cast the feeder to the far side. It was not fast and furious but I did have three carp on the feeder and I guess had doubled my weight. It also gave me time to watch the margins for signs of activity as I really needed fish to start feeding within pole range.

He thinks he can walk on water!

On one occasion I looked at my margin swim and I could also see phase 3 where Tony Williams was fishing on peg 25 I heard a yelp of anguish and saw Tony seemingly jump into the lake! The only problem is he had a bump bar set up on his box and he didn’t manage to leap over it, so his box followed him in! There was a sickening snap as a pole section got in the way; I must admit, I hoped it wasn’t the sixth section of his Pro as I had lent him a spare of mine! Even from a couple of hundred yards away and on a different lake I was a little worried about the tsunami! Help was soon at hand by those pegged around him, and as soon as they realised he was safe the banter started! I cannot be certain but I’m sure I saw a camouflaged figure sneaking into the undergrowth behind Toni’s peg. I did wonder if Chris had sought revenge for not having a peg!

With 90 minutes remaining the fish finally turned up on my long margin line, it looked solid with hungry carp! Shipping an 8mm pellet out I was soon playing a three pound fish. In that last period of the match I had a dozen carp, some one after another. I did lose a few foul hooked fish but it was great fishing and a nice confidence booster as well. I must admit though when they turn up it is not exactly hard work or difficult fishing!

The verdict

The scales came to our lake and John on peg one weighed 62lb plus and he was leading our section until my fish just pipped him by 10 ounces! I shook his hand as it was a close run affair but as John said we have all been ounced and it really is swings and roundabouts. I just wish those carp had turned up 30 minutes earlier at my fairground, I might have managed to swing in front of Harry Billing who won the match from Phase 2 with 80lb. Mind, if Tony Williams hadn’t believed he could walk on water he may have beaten Harry as he had 78lb and lost a vital 20 minutes fishing time, still mustn’t grumble!