Merry Xmas

There I was thinking that I was well ahead of my self when I knocked a cup of tea over my lap top! Oh man I was not impressed especially as I had just penned a couple of thousand words about my last few matches, I was hoping that it was repairable but have just found out it is terminal, that was an expensive cuppa! Never mind, mustn’t grumble (There were plenty of grumbles I assure you) here is an abridged version to bring this blog up to date.

Saturday found me fishing my 9^thmatch on the trot; it was the Christmas Match at the Barns and one that I had been looking forward to. Simon Poynter was the man in charge and he had done a very good job with the organisation the whole place had a Christmas feel to it, there were no monetary prizes but there were goodies for all the competitors. Lake owner Kevin Harmer had also donated the peg fees for the day which had been turned into more prizes, the match was to be held on two lakes with the lake draw held previously to allow us all to prepare.

Secret Bait?

I had drawn peg 3 on Neil’s lake and had Martin Vane for company to my right and young Harry Whykes to my left. I was planning to fish the waggler and the pole and look for around 15 -20lb. With around 5 minutes to go I had a rethink and decided to set up a method feeder. There was a competitive edge to the match but it was a day about enjoying the day for what it was, fishing! Kev Harmer certainly set the scene as he walked down the bank cradling a completely transparent and empty bait box saying ‘Secret Bait, Secret Bait’ It was like a scene out of the children’s fable ‘The Emperors New Clothes’ It did make me laugh and set the day up for what it was – Fishing4fun!

Harry Whyes started well on the method with a couple of quick carp, he certainly looks a good prospect for the future if he sticks with the sport it was nice to see a youngster taking on the old boys, keep at it buddy. My match stated slow on the waggler with a few small Rudd and within 25 minutes I was forced onto the method’ but it just would not work for me. Back on the waggler and I had some more Rudd as well as two welcome Carp one was around 8lb as well, a nice bonus! The match continued and I finished with 29lb 9oz which was good enough to win the section from young Harry who recorded 15lb 4oz.

Ounced!

My weight put me second on the lake losing out by 1 ounce to Mark Venton; I actually starting packing up with 15 minutes to spare as the rain reached unbelievable ferocity! I had had enough after a week of rain at White Acres. A great presentation followed with plenty of Christmas Fare for all, it rounded off a great day out, put me down for a ticket next year please!

A Match too far!

Sunday was another round of the Individual League at White Acres and I am sorry to say it was a match too many for me! The long and short of it was that I was exhausted after nine matches; it was not just the fishing but battling the elements that had taken it out of me!

I actually drew very well with peg 20 sticking to my hand. I made my mind up immediately it was going to be a one rod attack for me, method feeder a metre short of the island. I just hoped that the fish would cross under the rope to my side of the point. At the peg I relented and set up one pole to fish at 16m on the bar with corn.

Well it all went wrong! I had my first carp two hours into the match it was around 8lb, I lost a huge fish next cast and had one more nine pounder with 30 minutes to go putting back around 16 -17lb Arthur Turner showed me how to do it at the next peg fishing worm at 7m and taking a section winning 32lb that will teach me to be lazy, still two or three more bites was all that I needed.

Anyone for Mince Pies?

Thursday night saw the annual Fishermans dinner which is held at the local Golf club it was a great night with good food and company. I only mention it here as a new nickname was born for a KMG member. Following dinner Neil Kippax the club treasurer seemed to be saving all the mince pies for himself with a huge plateful in front of him. Mrs Lister just couldn’t help herself and called him ‘Mr Kipling’ there was raucous laughter as he was christened!

Air of the dog

We had a hang over open the following day at Gwinear and I must admit it was nice to be out in the fresh air, I had a nice breakfast of two panadol which I was hoping was going to work on my headache! I had my dip and drew peg 34 it is one of those pegs that I have always wanted to draw as it seems to always throw up a weight. I was in a lazy mood again and not much tackle was going to be assembled so it was a couple of pole rigs to cater for the 6m line and a .75 Cralusso Capri for the deep water. I also set up a crumb feeder which I thought would produce some fish.

At the whistle I potted a few maggots and some garlic micros on my pole lines and cast the feeder ¾ over with corn on the hook, I poured a coffee whilst I waited for the tip to fly round but it remained motionless. Not what I envisaged it seemed like it was quiet all over the lake which kept me on the feeder for awhile but nothing happened.

Three love

Out on the pole with double maggot on the hook I was surprised to get a bite immediately, shipping back to the top kit and the fish came off. Never mind out again and another quick bite which resulted in a bumped fish! I added a couple of inches went out again and had another fish on, I couldn’t believe no elastic was coming out of the pole but the carp was trying to pull the pole tip to the bottom of the lake. It wasn’t long before the inevitable happened and my .10 bottom snapped! I shipped back only to find the line wrapped around my pole cup! Oh man three carp hooked and nothing in the net. I really must learn to refuse that last pint!

After that I got my act together and hardly lost a fish, for the first couple of hours it was solid! They were only small carp but it was great fishing and I was starting to enjoy myself after the poor start. I had ‘Tourettes Taylor ‘next to me and he surprised me by catching a couple of carp from down the edge, surprising as the water was cold and clear. I think I finished with around 37 carp which went 49lb 12oz just beaten by ‘G10’ otherwise known as Pete Thomas he had just over 50lb Venue expert Mark Lazell was third with around 46lb. It was incredibly close and that is the way it has been the last few matches I have fished at Gwinear, it is once again becoming a very good venue.

Sunday White Acres Charity Match

Considering the weather it was a great turnout for this match and I was looking forward to drawing on Trelawney which had just received a stocking of around 2000 F1’s, if  couldn’t manage that a peg on Sycamore would do or one of the flyers on Pollawyn match lake. You can imagine my mood when peg 10 match lake stuck to my mitts, I was not best pleased I can tell you! Harry tried to cheer me up by saying there was 40lb of VIP’s down the edge but I just couldn’t see it as we had just had the coldest night of the year, plus I felt I was too far down the arm.

Pole only

I decided on a pole only match and set up a .75g Capri to fish at 6m and 13m where I expected to catch roach and the odd bream. I also had a J12 4 x 12 to fish down the edge looking for those very important perch the last rig was a shallow rig as there was the very odd fish showing on the surface. All my elastics were J range pink with the exception of the shallow rig which was a solid fox 4. I mixed some Green Betaine ground bait and added a few pinkies, casters and worms and I made up four balls which I planned to put two on each line. At the whistle I changed my mind and put three on the longer line leaving one for my shorter line. I figured that if t was going to be hard I didn’t too much bait on that 6m line, I could always add some more if I needed it.

The match started and I could not buy a bite and any line! The chap on peg 7 was catching small roach on the waggler that he was casting down the side of the island I noticed that he was fishing around 2’ deep so I had a go with my shallow rig. After 15 minutes I broke the duck and landed my first roach which was the size of my little finger! I had another minutes later but it I wasn’t going anywhere especially as peg 7 was playing a large carp! I had a look on the deck a 13m and was pleased to find a better roach, those that make that satisfying plop as they drop into the net!

That’s better

The roach started coming on a regular basis and I was just starting to think I could make up for that carp when I noticed that he was playing another! Oh man, that put me down in the dumps until I lifted into a bite and loads of laccy came streaming out! Five minutes later and I had an 8 pounder in the net. I felt like I was back in the hunt and a chance of winning some Christmas goodies if I could scrape the section. The day got colder as the match progressed but I managed to keep a few roach coming along with two bream and importantly two more carp. One of which was huge! It was one of the longest carp I have ever landed but it was not proportionate and had no belly I guess it was around 10lb but looked like it should have been nearer 20!

Most of my fish were taken on double red maggot from the 13m line, I had a few on the 6m line but it was really unproductive. As the longer line had responded to the extra ground bait I did feed some more short but it didn’t have the desired effect. The closer line didn’t respond at all despite feeding it constantly for the whole match. My total weight was 34lb 9oz the three carp went 23lb 4oz I managed to shade my half of the section as the chap on peg 7 finished with 29lb. Back in the car park I learnt that Trevor Conroy had around 23lb in the other half of my split section I was pleased with that result.

Surpise

Later as Clint read out the results I was really chuffed to hear that I had won the whole match! I still cannot believe I won the match from that peg, just shows what we really know about the lakes we fish! Harry Billing was second overall with around 32lb from peg 25 on the match lake but every single angler walked away from the lodge with their arms full of Christmas cheer, well done Santa Clint and his little helpers it was another great match. The local mayor was in attendance to give out the prizes and he also was very grateful to all he anglers as over £500 was raised for charity. At least half was going to RNLI and the rest will be used for the mayor’s charity. Thanks must go to all the anglers who supported this event so generously, well done to you all.

Thursday affordable

My last match for the year was the affordable open at the Barns in Summer Court it was a small match but it is a venue I really enjoy attending the matches are always fished in good spirits with friendly banter. When I arrived I had a quick look at the lake and was surprised at how clear it was, in fact it was useful as some of the lakes features were visible in the clear water, these were committed to memory and I am sure they will pay dividends in the future.

I was offered the bag first and had my dip and peg 9 was the result I had a quick chat with Mick Heacock to get the lowdown on the peg. It is always useful asking venue regulars as they have so much knowledge about the lakes they fish. Mick reminded me that to the left on the far bank was a hole that that hooked carp bolt into resulting in a new hook! My plan today was simple, a one rod waggler attack. The lake is just starting to get a little wider from my peg so I chose a 2.5g Cralusso Rocket Light which was shotted with two No.4 shot locking a small link swivel to the float, I had one no.9 shot as a dropper to a .12 hook length and a size 20 T213 hook.

Fond memories

Bait was red maggot and I had one pint that is the only bait that I had on my bait table. As I sat there waiting for the start my setup really started bringing back some memories of matches gone by when the ‘wag and mag’ was king, in those days it was matches on the River Thames looking for Roach and Dace. The only difference then was it was a peacock waggler, now I have very few of those in my kit, it is rockets all the way for me. They cast superbly with much less effort which can pay dividends when you can be casting over 30 times an hour.

The match started and I baited with two maggots and cast into around 4’ of water a metre short of the far bank and fired a few maggots around the float within a minute the float went under and I was pleased to feel a small carp pulling back, I expected a Rudd to make the first appearance.  I had a really good first hour with several carp coming to the net, they were not big but it was freezing and catching is the best way to stay warm in my book!

In fact I caught fish all through the match plenty of small carp and a good smattering of Rudd some of which were as big as the carp, it was a brilliant days fishing. The only problem was the fish toward the last 90 minutes drifted to the left and I had to cast nearer to he dreaded hole to keep catching, I spent as much time tying new hook lengths as I did actual fishing! I finished with 32lb which was good enough to win the match. I was pleased with the result as it is my first victory at the Barns! I have had a few seconds and a few more places much lower down the order!

The main thing that helped me in this match was that I was able to get my loose feed to the far bank where I was able to concentrate the fish. To do this I have adapted my catapults by putting on a smaller pouch, this  keeps the loose feed tighter. I also shorten the elastic; this last bit has to be done a little bit at a time as you can shorten it too much! The catapults I use are J Range with purple elastic for the waggler and the yellow for the pole; it is the pouch from the lighter yellow catapult that I prefer. Whatever catapult you use they will benefit from a little DIY work.

Well that’s me finished with fishing for the naughties I will be back on the bank next year. In the meantime I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.