Commercial House - King Sedgemoor Drain - Round 3

 After a week of fishing for carp it was back to natural fishing, and that meant quite a bit of changing over gear, rigs and hook length preparation. It is a bit of a slog to do this but I do get a lot of enjoyment out of many venues and as they say, you only get out what you put in.

Alarm was set for 5:45am Sunday and I had no problems getting up and was at the 37 Club in Puriton by 7:30 am. Need to follow the Covid rules, so mask on, scan code with the NHS app, get to my teams table and mask off. The 37 club were very attentive and soon I had a nice breakfast and cup of tea. My Thatchers team today comprised of Rob Jones, Luke Sorokin, Paul Isaacs, Matt Challenger and Rob Manns. With the team winning the first two rounds I was keen to do well after a poor first round (I missed the second round which fished well at Swineford and Crane). Mike Goodhind (Bristol City supporter who likes reminding me I'm a Rovers supporter, I can't think why!) asked me to pull out the peg numbers for the draw, and when it was my teams turn I pulled 1 out. We have a matrix so not everyone is on peg 1, but we still had two end pegs, but they were not given to me. Rob Jones on A1 at Parchey, could win the match there with bream, and Rob Manns on F7 at Bradney. I was off to E3 at Bradney.

I recognised the area as soon as I got to my peg, and realised I was one peg away from where I drew back in the summer on the super league practice open. I struggled back then for a high 3lb, but Tony Goodland told me there should be a lot more fish in this part of the river now as they move up from the shallower Parchey. Thanks to Paul Purchase for pegging the match out and giving everyone plenty of room, sure it helps, and the pegs themselves were very comfortable.

Rigs today were going to be waggler, feeder, pole rigs for a chopped worm line, and gbait and worm line, and a whip. Setting up was rushed and I was not looking like being ready, the whip can be the best method here if you are on the small fish, though in the past I've never been lucky enough to sit on a pile of fish. Was sorting out the whip, my Preston 8m system whip, when I managed to drop the 5m part into the KSD and watched it disappear into the depths.... 4m to hand here would not be enough so the whip was now off as I knew the bottom was all over the place until 9m as I had plumed around on the pole. I put together a 1.5g rig with 18 N10 to 0.10 for the 9m line, and a 2g rig for the much deeper 13m line. To be honest mentioning what else I set up is just a waste of time.

On my right today was Andy Britt, he was one off the end peg and would be hard to beat as he does very well at whip fishing. on my left was an empty peg, and then Graham Hunt, so I was the meat in a Bathampton sandwich.

We started at 10am, and I cupped 3 balls of gbait on the 9m line containing pinkie, hemp and casters. Also cupped some bait out to 13m. Shipped out to 9m with a red maggot on the hook and not long after the float cocked it went under, I hooked something that felt reasonable, felt like a skimmer, but it weeded me up and came off, not going too well this day so far. After this I had bites but from very small 1/2 ounce pommies, I kept going as I was getting bites and this was a better start than in previous visits here. I had an early try with caster on the hook and had a 4oz rudd and a 2oz perch, but that was it. Back on the maggot and still getting bites and occasionally the stamp would be better with 2oz pommies, but still no roach. I was throwing a ball of gbait in regularly with hemp and caster in and still getting a bite every drop after an hour. Andy was going well too, but I was concerned I was going to be catching slower than him even though I was shipping in and out like the six million dollar man.

The second hour was pretty much the same and I was still getting a bite a chuck, I experimented with hookbaits, caster not good, fluro maggot not good, but red and bronze maggot were the best with bites on the drop on these. I started to get the odd roach but they were still few and far between, it was mainly these little pommies and odd little perch, and odd rudd. 

The third hour and still a bite a chuck on the 9m line, and I couldn't contemplate leaving this line and trying for a better fish, but I really needed better quality, so I started loose feeding hemp and caster as well as throwing the gbait in. After a while this did seem to bring the roach in, but they would not stay for long, but they were 2oz plus so I kept the loose feed going in. However, I had to alter how to feed it, and it was always interesting. The fourth and fifth hour were really just more of the same, and I fished the whole match on this line, not very often you can say that. What a busy match, not had a day like that for some time, must have had getting on for 200 fish. Less than Andy who had 256.

The weights in the section were good, and Andy fished a great match with 256 fish for 19lb 2oz to win the section and teach me a lesson. I had 14lb 11oz for second in the section. Rest of the weights in my section are on the sheet.

Back to the results and my team mates had enjoyed their day all bar Matt, and that meant we won this round. Rob jones did win the match from A1, he had 12 bream and 1 tench for 56lb, all in the first hours! Paul had 12lb, Luke 12lb, Rob Manns 8lb and Matt 4lb.

Top individuals

1st Rob Jones 56lb

2nd Ben Rendall 36lb (2 away from Rob)

3rd Andy Britt 19lb 2oz

4th Paul Purchase 17lb 6oz (same section as Rob and Ben so more bream)

5th Tim Ford 14lb 11oz.

Another little pick up £40 for me, and that really brings to the end a week of lovely fishing for me, finally got my draw on small fish on the KSD, even if I did lose my whip lol.

Viaduct Holiday Day 5

 Up a bit earlier for breakfast today which as ever was at M&M cafe in Somerton, and then a short drive to Avalon Fishery where it was good to see old friend and previous team mate Vic Bush. I do like this fishery, it can be a challenge some days, but there are some great fish in here, it is also in an area near to shapwick heath nature reserve and some wonderful wildlife.

My job today to record the draw, and Vic pulled all the pegs out, he pulled one for me first and gave me 13... unlucky for some? As I walked to my peg and went past Mike Nicholls I thought he had fallen in, but it turned out he was literally in the lake clearing his margin!

For the third time this week I was next to Glenn who was on peg 12 and he said we needed to be further down he thought, our match ran from peg 5 to peg 23. My other neighbour was venue regular Mike West, I've not seen Mike for ages, but he really is a very nice bloke and we had a good chat whilst setting up. It was funny when he cast out lead out, and I said it is a float only Mike, he didn't know. Funnier still when Vic arrived on 16 and chucked the lead out and Woody told him it is float only Vic, lol!

As I set up (and forgot to take a photo) I remembered winning a match on this peg many years ago on a pellet wag, but now there is a tree which would prevent me casting into the bay where I had caught before, I did set the wag up but wasn't sure it would work. A 4x16 rig was set up for banded pellet, and a float with no shot on the line for paste, I use a size 12 PR456 which I have lots left of but are discontinued. I was going to feed one line at 11.5m to fish these rigs over, the wind was getting up and I didn't want to fight it further out. I also set up a rig for the margins but never had a sniff here.

I knew I was going to have my work cut out today, both Mike and Glenn are paste anglers and so I was going to be up against it to not be a chip shop sausage, especially as they were both going out to 13m, but I was positive after my good run. In went half a pot of 6mm pellets on the all in and out went the paste rig, the wind was a pain and after two attempts I had the paste come off and picked up the pellet rig. The 8mm pellet was soon picked up and I was the first to land a carp of the three of us. I missed a couple of indications and then had a fouler, so back on the paste and got it sorted. I had two fish on this and lost two foulers. Three fish for about 25lb, but Glenn then had two for about 30lb one of those was a real lump and snapped his top set. Mike had one carp.

We all struggled after this initial hour and became quite motionless I tried the waggler and may have had one bite but the wind was making it impossible really. After an hour of nothing I then had two carp in fairly quick succession, and halfway through I was once again leading the match as it seemed the venue was showing its tough side. As we moved into the second half of the match Mike and Glenn and myself would all seem to get a very odd fish, and Mark Tanner on 11 was catching on the pellet wag. I saw fish over by the island and when the wind dropped I said I'm catching that carp that keeps showing itself. I cast to it, landed 3 feet away, within 8 seconds I had a bite and fish on, but after a few seconds it was off and I reeled in 2 scales. Not long after I put the waggler up the poxy tree, and decided to concentrate on the paste.

Mike started to get more signs of fish in his peg in the last 2 hours, and he was now catching better than myself and Glenn. But then we would get the odd carp, and I had a tench, it always felt close between us as we approached the end. 10 mins to go Mike lands one and Glenn does too, damn, then 5 mins to go I hook one (please stay on!). Just before the all out Mike hooks another and we both land our fish after the whistle. I had Mike down as the winner, as he seemed to have bigger fish than myself. Although a tough match it had certainly gone down to the wire when just one fish could make the difference.

Vic began weighing from peg 5, Mark Tanner on 11 had a great 47lb 8oz all on the pellet wag, then Glenn just pipped him with 49lb 12oz with some big boys!

I was next to weigh in and my fish went 55lb 8oz and so I went into the lead, but that didn't last long as Mike West won with 66lb 6oz, well done Mike you fished a great match and never gave up.

That meant I was second and Glenn third, so I ended up framing in every match this week which honestly I never even dreamed of.

Full results on the sheet below, silvers won by John Fuidge with 20lb of skimmers and tench on corn.

End of holiday, well not quite. We stopped in Street to have a meal in Wetherspoons, we all had masks with us so no issues and sat in our lodge bubbles. Had a few cans as it was the last night.

Next morning I had a breakfast and packed everything up, some people shot off but some were staying to fish the pegs behind the lodge. I went for a walk, quickly looked in the other lodge and took a photo of their table, glad I was in the other lodge!

Walking round the lake I spied some big fish in the corner of middle lake, as Lee, Martin and Mark were having a little knock up I told Chris Ollis to come with me and catch one of these carp. I showed Chris where they were, he kept back from the edge, I grabbed his topset as he held the rest of the pole and I swung the rig just off the end of a pipe. The meat was grabbed before it was out of sight and I said "strike!" Fish on. After a good battle Chris landed a lovely common of about 18lb, Martin saw it as well and said had to be at least that.

After I left the guys behind I found out Lee Masey had an eel on the pole, it weighed 4lb 14oz, bloody big that! Shame no photo, but sure Lee won't forget that one!

Well I reflect on a great week, after all the lockdown restrictions it was nice to be with friends and even with the rules we managed to have some great fishing and plenty of belly laughs. Certainly my most successful holiday from a results perspective, but that is only part of the bigger picture. A big thanks to Glenn who organized the matched and the bookings, and thanks to Steve, Matt and Helen Long for their every friendly welcome and support.

Tomorrow I'm on the KSD, any carp in there PMSL!

Viaduct Holiday Day 4

 Wednesday morning and the annual short pole match on Campbell lake, maximum pole length top set plus 3 sections, and no shipping on allowed. After the previous day we were all hoping for a draw on the near bank and the bottom corners, as from pegs 121 to 128 was a struggle the previous day. Well Matt Long did me proud again giving me 114, a great peg for margins with 87lb off it the day before. Relentless good pegs for me.

I set up a rig for fishing top set plus 3 sections at an angle left and right, same depth, and one rig with a band on with 0.17 to 16 KKM. LH side for meat, RH for pellet. Two margin rigs, one for the right where I found a little shallow ledge before a steep drop off, and one to the left where it was nearly as deep as out in front. This margin was so undercut it was unreal, must go back at least 3 or 4 feet.

With peg 113 not in today my neighbours were Paul Faires on 112 and fellow Lodger Chris Ollis on 115. I started on the meat line left, drawing the band into the meat. It was certainly a slow start for me and everyone else, I did manage three skimmers and a carp here before I lost 2 foulers. Moved over to the right on the pellet and nailed a carp first drop, then lost a fouler and missed a bite. Swapped back to meat for another skimmer and this just seemed lifeless and so I concentrated on the pellet line.

It was painfully slow for many, with Glenn having a few early carp and Gordon on 111 the same. I had odd carp coming over the pellet as I would get a few bubbles, but I just had liners and no bites. I thought try a piece of meat over this line and I nailed two carp straight away, sorted! Err no, back to uncatchable fish (I guess the likes of Andy Power would have sorted it) but I wasn't alone here as many were just getting foulers. Halfway through I tried my RH margin, nothing at all here so onto the LH margin where I had fed pellets, and on an 8mm pellet I had 3 in 3 drops before all went quiet. Glenn rang me from 132, he said I had to be winning as he couldn't see much being caught, and Woody up on 119 confirmed this. I had to wait for bites in the margin, and as I waited longer I hit less bites and it was going tits up, so I rested it. The RH margin still no good I went back out on top set plus 3 on the pellet and caught one but lost more foulers and just couldn't carry on doing that.

On 115 Chris started to catch carp in his left margin, and some right big lumps they were, he was fishing worm over dead maggot, using a novel rig incorporating a poly bead. As I struggled to nail fish in the margin Chris began to catch me up.

Glenn began to catch well in the last hour, and I could feel the match slipping away from me as I struggled to get a bite not a liner. The RH margin three times had a fish come in and spook out as I was fishing it, the LH the fish were hard to catch, think I fed it wrong, I tried shallow but that didn't work either. I still caught carp, but I wasn't lining them up like I should have been. When the match ended I thought I had close to 100lb but knew in my heart I should have done a lot more.

Top today was Gordon Cannings, winning on peg 111, proving there were carp there to catch on the pole, he had a slow start but caught better later in the match on meat, then like me a couple late on in the margin, 120lb 1oz, well done Gordon who had been struggling on the draw bag before this.

Second was Glenn with 104lb 5oz, and third was myself with 102lb 8oz, and as they paid third I got another pick up, yay! As for my neighbours Paul Faires took out the silvers win with a great 45lb and Chris Ollis had 80lb.

Many anglers told stories of woe after of having trouble with foulers, and that made me feel a bit better about my losses today. 4 days 4 times in the frame, on cloud nine really. With the following day and last match being at Avalon I knew I would have to have paste in my armoury and Glenn did me proud making some for me.

Viaduct Holiday Day 3

 Tuesday morning started bright but the hot weather was due to be replaced by more normal weather, but still dry according to my weather app. The match we were all fishing today was the Tuesday Viaduct open match on Campbell, with some very good anglers here today and I knew I would need a good draw for my good run to continue. Well Matt Long once again did me proud giving me 111, not sure when I last had this peg, but it is a consistently good one usually. I almost ran to the peg lol.

It was going to be another day of ear ache (no Glenn was not pegged next me lol) as I had the aerator on in the peg, this would make and chatting tricky, though I could talk to Lee Masey on 110, Lee was staying in the other Lodge.

On peg 112 was a chap called Rich Yeo, and I thought he would do well off that peg though 113 was in it had silvers angler Nigel Bartlett on it. Dan Squires on 115 was going to be hard to beat as was my Thatchers team mate Gary Webber on 132. Again I had to consider how would I do best today, and best compete. I set up pole rigs for 5m and 13m but in truth never really gave these much attention. I had a brain wave that on a recent match an angler won on the feeder off here, so set that up. As I was assembling my margin rig Gary Webber came round for a chat, and to be honest he put me right, he said get the straight lead on and I would expect you to be on that for the first half of the match. he also said to fish a heavier float in the margins, so on went a 0.4g, with 0.19 to a 12 XSH. Gary was very helpful, and showed his class, he's always been a great angler but since he retired and can fish more he's winning even more. He did say though that my peg had not been so great lately with more carp being in the middle of the lake by the new second aerator.

On the all in I cast out the lead and fired out some 8mm pellets, it wasn't at all long before the 0.19 and 14 KKM was attached to a carp, an angry one too that went everywhere and behind the aerator, oh great I thought or similar. Lucky man I was I got back round, it was a fish of maybe 7lb but was on steroids it seemed. Next cast and similar result, and the next and the next... Probably had not far off 40lb by the end of the first hour, a great start and other than Gary on 132 not a lot was being caught. Just into he second hour yielded another fish but then I had 30 minutes blank, tries on the pole were fruitless, although Rich had 3 carp on the pole short mid match then nothing. The carp were still out by the aerator as I was getting liners, trying different hook baits had no effect and then all of a sudden the tip started to go around and the reel clutch screaming. Lee Masey next door later admitted the sound of my clutch was pissing him off lol. The weather certainly turned today, and I was glad I had my fleece, at one stage we had drizzle and I was getting wet, but it soon stopped which was good as I had no coat.

I kept feeding my RH margin with a mix of pellet/hemp/corn and was looking for signs of fish but never saw any boils and no bites when I tried, so I stayed mostly on the lead nicking the odd fish. With 20 mins to go I lost a fouler on the lead and looking at the margin I thought the colour of the water had changed but couldn't see any boils. Still thought I had to try it now, went in with double corn and within 20 seconds it shot under and a near double was landed, next look and another, now 1 minute left dropped in, and with 10 seconds to go float flys under but I missed it, end of match. Looking at my clicker I had 170lb on it, but as I tend to over estimate the big boys I said I had 160lb.

Matt started weighing as he does from 132, so a long wait for me to weigh in, with Gary weighing 132lb on 132 it seemed most people had me down as the winner. However, the scales are the true reflection and in the end I did not win despite have many more carp than anyone else. Dan Squires on 115 had I think just 12 carp, all caught in the last 3 hours, these weighed 164lb 5oz. My fish went 159lb 2oz, enough for second but just agonisingly one fish short of the win.  Rich ended with 90lb and Lee with 73lb

Silvers winner today was regular silvers angler winner Dave Willmott with 41lb 13oz all on casters, Dave really has this method sorted and wins numerous silvers prizes, great angling Dave.

My last two fish in the margin went 21lb, not the real edge monsters that can be caught here but still very nice fish. Three matches and three pick ups, and so nearly could have been three wins, but as I did say to my fellow lodgers before we went, I hadn't fished a carp match since before lockdown so was going to be rusty and could I have some tips? Truly I was so happy to be doing so well, but the lodgers kept reminding me of my pre holiday statements lol!  Oh and the only tip I got was from Martin Reyat, draw well ;-)

Think we had a takeaway curry that night, a few were not happy with their meal, but I really liked mine and once again it was a large amount of grub to consume, ooof.

Viaduct Holiday Day 2

 Monday, I say that as it seemed hard for all of us to keep track of what day it was, most likely down to us not watching any news or TV and just chillin. Today's match was on Match Lake and it was just our group of 8 anglers, Matt Long put 3 pegs on each side of the lake and 1 at each end, this time we drew our pegs off the table and I pulled out peg 42 for me, really happy with this peg! I have fond memories of this peg with two lake wins on it before, one in the summer on pellet wag, and one in the winter fishing into the right hand margin.

For company on my left on 43 was once again Glenn

and on the bank on his own Gordon Cannings on 39. As I studied the peg with the noisy aerator on I considered what to set up, Martin Reyat said  the lake was rammed with F1's and he would be fishing pole shallow for them as would Gordon. Not something I do, and so didn't think I would compete with those guys, I set it up but it was a last resort really. I had two major features to aim for at some stage, firstly the island which I could see looked tricky to get tight to due to some trees, so I set a straight lead up for this and not a waggler as casting would have to be mega accurate.

Secondly the margin, I had seen an angler catching about a metre out from the bank the day before in deeper water, and when I plumbed up it was really shallow next to the bank and then a steep slope to deeper water a metre out, just out past the end of the pipe you can see in the picture.

However, I began the match fishing banded 6mm pellet over toss potted 4mm pellet at top set plus one, this seems to be a distance that Mike always catches on so I thought I would try it. Well it never it worked for me lol, and with Glenn soon latching in to his first carp on paste at 13m I had to go out further. As the aerator on full blast the water was moving and I only went to top set plus 3 sections, even here there was a tow now and again. Started feeding and fishing the same way, it was slow to start with a couple of 6oz roach and a small skimmer and I was wondering where were all the F1's? Eventually I got a carp, and then had regular bites from the small 1 - 2lb carp. At the end of the first hour I had 20lb on my clicker. A 4x12 with 18 to 0.13 powerline was the rig I used here.

Like a switch was flicked both Glenn and myself both found our swims died, and we surprised but this. It was really hot and I was drinking plenty of water, and as I grabbed a drink Glenn changed to the lead and had a small carp by the island and had another indication. I followed suit and had 4 stockies and an F1 in as many casts then nothing again. Glenn never had another fish on the lead when I cast out here. I came off the lead as it was not happening, and once again it appeared the fish were being moody, with Gordon really struggling to catch anything and Martin Reyat on 52 having to change from pole to wag to try to get odd fish. I had an early look in the margin where I was throwing in the odd dozen 6mm pellets, but nothing here this early. Back onto my short pole line, this was slow again and I was just about to give up when a few stockies and a better carp showed before once again it just stopped.

Glenn was only getting the odd bite on the pole, and I cast the lead back out to the island, the rest had done it really good as I probably had a good 40 minutes of catching here, but as soon as I had a cast with no bite or indication I came off it to rest it. Bankside info was that I was "pissing it" with many of the lads struggling, so I just had to try to keep something going in the net for the last two hours, as we all know the margins can transform one anglers result. My next look in the margin gave me bites, two F1's and then a carp, but then foulers and missed bites, I was fishing too deep. I re plumbed up the margin and came up on the slope for fishing now inside the pipe. But I wanted to feed and rest it first, so back on the lead. I had a couple of stockies straight away and then disaster, my hook caught on a branch  the far bank and I lost the lot, here endeth the lead fishing. It was time to concentrate on and make the margin work, and thankfully moving into shallower water was a good move. It was never hectic but I had a couple of near 4lb F1's and when I caught a carp it was generally 5lb plus. I had had another enjoyable day working at the peg catching on three lines.

My final tally was 122lb 14oz, and certainly my best ever weight from this lake was enough to win. Woody came 2nd with a late surge of margin fish on end bank peg 47, and Glenn was third with 74lb 11oz which included a lump that had a new home in Spring. Mike won the silvers at a canter with 22lb 10oz.

Two days, two picks ups, lovely start in lovely weather. We retired to the Unicorn Hotel for a nice meal and a few pints and sat outside all evening, what a bonus bit of weather. 

Viaduct Holiday Day 1

 The annual holiday to Viaduct (or as someone has called it "jolly boys outing") this year was supposed to be as always in June, we all know why this didn't happen, bloody Covid, and instead we were given week starting 19th September. With matches scheduled every day it is a week that does fly by, but without the pressure of a festival it is just good friends fishing hard and enjoying each others great company. It was all safe with 5 lads in one lodge and 4 of us in the other being Mike Nicholls, Martyn "Woody" Woodington and Glenn Bailey. 

I actually did not fish the match on the Saturday on Carey, reason being the 19th was my birthday and I had a family meal planned out in Bath which was lovely. I arrived at the Lodges at Viaduct about 7:30pm that evening, unpacked and then found the rest of the crew in the Unicorn Hotel just about to get their food. See Mike's blog for the result of that match.

My Day 1 was therefore on the Sunday open match being held on Lodge Lake, a lake where in the past I seem to have some either very good, or very bad matches. Steve Long did the draw for each person, and I was very happy when he pulled out the Monk peg 64 for me, though I would like to have been on 66 purely as I have never drawn it, but Woody was on that one so I had him in full view, my other neighbour on peg 62 was Lodge mate Glenn. Steve told me there had been a lot of carp up my end of the lake so I went to the peg with positive vibes. It was a lovely sunny warm day so I got my legs out.

I set up a 4x12 rig to fish banded pellet on the deck straight in front at 5m and again at 11.5m, a shallow rig, a 4x10 for the margin at 13m up past the monk. I did also set up a rig for the pallet on 63 and a pellet wag, but neither were any use to me today. I began on the 5m line looking for one of the silly fish that sometimes oblige, but after 20 mins not a bite and Woody opposite was already hooking fish on the paste, but had yet to land one. I went out to 11.5m where I had been feeding 6mm with a catapult, nothing, it was all very quiet, but I had a couple of swirls so went shallow for nothing at all. An hour in and I had nothing in my net, I shouted over to Woody that my blog would be short but at least I could write about him losing 6-0 to the carp at this stage lol. I think in this photo he was debating what to do next.

With me catching nothing it was a choice of going into the margin really early, or making the 11.5m line work, and as I was sure there were fish in the peg I went with the latter and put on a toss pot and tried to feed like this. Well it was soon to prove to be a good move as I was soon landing my first carp from the 11.5m line. In fact I think I had 6 in in 6 drops, many of these were the small stockies which seem to go from 1 to 3lb. I don't mind catching carp of this size and have done a lot of that in years gone by, and feeding with the toss pot allowed me to regulate the feed and keep everything tight for them. I did get the odd better 6lb carp from here. Things inevitably slowed up, but I had a decent couple of hours here and from what I could see and what Glenn told me I was easily the best on the lake.

With 2 hours left I went up past the Monk, into a spot that I had been feeding with 6mm pellets, I put an 8mm in the band and started with the rig 1/2m away from the edge, straight away I had a small stocky and bites were instant for the the first half a dozen drops, before it became a more patient approach. Very similar to the 11.5m line the better carp were just very few and far between, and rather than getting better the margin stayed slow, even resting it didn't seem to improve it.

However, I would get a bite which was better than many who were still struggling, like Glenn with just 2 carp. I then noticed Mike Nicholls and Paul Elmes in the opposite corner catching carp, with Mike appearing to be catching lumps judging by the struggle he had to lift them out. As Mike was flying I was slowing but I had no clue of his weight. When the match ended I was more than happy, after a blank first hour I had caught a fair few of the stocky carp and with quite a few better ones thought I had 110lb to 120lb, probably my busiest days fishing on this lake.

The scales weighed Mike first, and he had 127lb, 10lb of silvers and he had just 10 carp all caught in the last 100 minutes he said, completely different from my day. I didn't think I had that much but it was bloody close, with me weighing 126lb 4oz, just 13oz off the win, I never had a silver which was a bit unusual, so second place and a great start for me. Well done Mike on the win (see his blog for how) and Paul Elmes for third with 76lb, and Martin Rayet for winning the silvers with 34lb of skimmers on meat.

Woody ended up with 68lb and Glenn really struggled with just 30lb, but he was not sore and took a photo of me, thanks!

We were unable to eat out that night at the Unicorn, but they had prepared roast dinners for all of us that we had to just reheat ever so slightly, it was a nice evening and lovely to sit outside the lodge in a t shirt in September. The meal was bloody enormous and I was stuffed!!!

2001

 My plans for this weekend were with fishing involved but not by me, I instead tried to lend a hand where I could to the juniors fishing a match at Bitterwell Lake. 18 young uns, boys and girls, lined up to try to win one of the great trophies and prizes, though for some just catching a fish would be their best prize. Paul Isaacs is doing a great job here trying to promote angling to young kids, and seeing 18 here was great. The level of skill and tackle varied immensely and some of the kids had parents or grandparents on hand to help them, for example Kev Millard and Martyn  Smith were there with family. I think only one young lad went fishless, and he was using a whip lent to him by the fishery, but as his sister managed to catch a couple of fish I think he wants to go again. Well done Charlie Isaacs winning, but only by a couple of ounces as the top 3 all had 6lb in 3 hours. It was a silvers only match, and I saw a 3lb bream, and a couple of near 1lb roach caught, so some great fish for these kids. It was a great success and there were many prizes as a lot of anglers at last weeks Commercial House gave some groundbait and buckets towards the match.

Back in August 2001 I was still competing in the Superleague, but had time to fish some open matches too. One open was at Newbridge on the Avon, where I drew peg 18. Well nearly 20 years ago the approach was much different from today, I set up a 3AAA waggler with a 22 to 0.10, with 7 no 6, 3 no 8 and 1 no 10 down the line. I had a nice day feeding hemp and maggots to end with 10lb of roach, chublets and hybrids. Won my section, but nothing else as 90lb of bream won this match on Kelston Straight!

A couple of weeks later I was on the banks of the Huntspill on peg 77, fishing an open as a practice for the super league. I started on the feeder but it was a complete waste of time for me and after an hour I went onto the pole where I had been feeding hemp and maggots, though I didn't feed much as it was quite tough. 4x14 and 4x18 floats with 22 to 0.10 were used and I caught roach, perch and 3 eels for a total weight of 3 kilo 700g. A nice weight but not enough to win the section. Two weeks later I was back for the super league, peg 111 was my home this time. This time I caught a few fish on the feeder; 2 very small skimmers, 2 eels, and 1 big roach. I cast right over and caught with little bits of worm or red maggot. The pole line was poor for me today, but I did lose a big eel which cost me a few points, as I only had 8 points from 12. On the day a number of anglers caught gudgeon and perch on a close 4m line, something I hadn't even set up and so that was a lesson learned. Still my team won the day and ended the league 2nd overall which was a great result for us back then.

I fished my first Commercial House round on September 30th, this match was on the Avon around Melksham, I got a peg at Portman Road. I was told I should ball it in with 6 jaffas, so I did just that! I caught tiny roach, bleak and minnows on the pole, fishing with a 22 to 0.09. I only had 3lb 6oz, so was amazed when the 14 peg section was weighed in that I came 2nd in it. Team won the day, so great start. The following week the first ATWL round was being fished around Chippenham. The team draw put me in the town, I was below the town bridge and basically right outside a pub. I was told I would struggle to beat the anglers by the bridge. I started on the gbait feeder fishing across the river, with hardly any bites I was soon on the pole, but this was just as bad with just a couple of bites. Back on the feeder and I could get a bite every cast now, problem was it was from gudgeon! I stuck on a dendra worm and decided to stick with this as I needed snookers I thought. I had a perch and skimmer on this and then with about 2 hours to go had a right wrap round but missed it. I couldn't believe it, the bait was gone. Out again and a few minutes later exactly the same wrap round bite and fish on. Was glad I had 0.14 on a this fish went well, and it turned out to be a tench of about 3lb. No more wrap rounds so I assume both bites were from the same tench. I didn't catch much after this but word was it had fished hard bar the angler above the bridge catching bream, and Martin Reyatt getting some roach below. The scales came down and 20lb+ was top but Martin was second with 5lb 15oz which I was sure I didn't have. However, Martin had a few choice words when my fish went exactly 6lb lol. Team won as well so great start again.

On Sunday October 15th The next round of the Commercial House was fished on the Hunstrete lakes complex, I was really hoping to be on one of the two new lakes but was on the old lake. I was up one end and really struggled, couldn't catch any skimmers, scratched 3lb 10oz of roach out on a waggler, only 9 points from 14 for this, but again the team won. Sure as night follows day the following Sunday it was round 2 of the ATWL, this time at Newbridge. The river was very coloured today as it had been flooded, but I didn't pick up hardly any rubbish on the line which is always a good thing. I remember this match quite well, but my diary is still needed to get the details right. I was drawn on the Kelston side of the river, above the cycle track bridge in the cow drink, when you see it you couldn't pick a nicer peg you'd think with water on. Well this day things just weren't going to plan for me, I never had a bite in the dead still water, and had to fish the groundbait feeder down the middle to get the odd bite. With an hour to go I was struggling, I had 5 eels, 2 small hybrids abd 1 roach, Nigel Wyatt above me had a bream, and Lee Trivett fishing for arch rivals Bathampton also had a bream. It would be gutting to get poor points and Lee win the section, but it was going that way. With nothing happening I put a size 10 hook on and fished a whole lobworm, the tip started to bounce around, and eel bite I guessed and so I would wait for the rod to go right over so signal the eel was hooked. However, the tip just kept bouncing a little bit, and eventually I couldn't resist and struck. Well flip me I had hooked a bream and landing that one with about 50 mins to go was a bonus. Twenty minutes later and the rattling tip syndrome again, but this time it finally did go over, but no eel, another bream. Match over I had got out of jail, and ended up winning the section with 11lb 6oz, and Triv was cursing his (or rather my) luck lol, I know Triv remembers this day too as he mentioned it one night when we were out on Thatchers duties. Team won again. After having a really poor spring and summer Autumn was being kind to me in 2001, and more success was to come, but that will have to wait for another time.

There won't be a blog next week because I will be in a WIFI free zone, but plenty to write about the week after. 

Commercial House Winter League Round 1 - Bristol Avon Newbridge / Chequers

 Well it seems the meteorological summer is now over now that the first winter league is upon us. It is a little league these days with just 6 teams of 6, and a hospital team, so 42 anglers fishing each round. Normally we would all be at Newbridge today, but there is work being done to clear the railway line embankment by the trees and so pegs and parking missing. Hence 7 pegs down at Chequers.

I couldn't wait to fish this match as we had an actual HQ for the draw and results, the Cadbury Heath Social club. They had it sorted with sanitizers, well spaced tables and chairs etc. a breakfast and a tea for a £5 note also was good value I thought. I was asked to help with the draw and pull out the section letter for each team for the matrix draw, and it just meant nobody was touching each others balls.. lol. My team draw was OK I thought, Geraint Powell up at Rotork, me on peg 5 in the little field, Shaun Townsend on 26, Nick Ewers on 36, Rob Manns on end peg at Newbridge 63, and Paul Isaacs down at Chequers. Paul was on his Thatchers debut ans I hoped he would do well.

Peg 5 is a peg I have already had this year, though it is not my favourite in the little field as I would always prefer 3, 7 and 10. However, I was going to the peg happy.

Unfortunately no pictures today as it seems my laptop / iphone are not being friends tonight. There was still a nice colour in the river, more than I though there would be, and a little bit of flow it seemed. I set up the pole for 13m which just got me into the flow, a 1gm pencil, 2g bodied, and 3g flat float were all put up for the pole line. Also a waggler, crowquill and feeder rod. Quite a few things today as I was unsure what might be needed. in my section I had Kev Dicks above me on peg 3, Steve Skelton on 7, Dave Lewis on 10, Dean Harvey on 12, Si Greening on 13, and below the bridge on 16 Ivan Currie. all anglers who can catch fish on rivers.

I started the match bu throwing in 12 balls of gbait, caster, hemp and pinkie on the 13m line, and thought I would start straight on this and not feed anything else but see how it went. The first four runs through on the 2g rig with caster were biteless, so I put a maggot on and missed a bite, then caught a 1oz roach not a good sign at all. I was struggling on the pole straight away, I had a small dace, three tiny roach, and then some bleak trouble. A pike then took a fish and bit me off., and a little perch and a 4oz chublet were all I had added after an hour, and I was just not able to get any roach at all. I tried the flat float with worm, and had two perch of 2 or 3 oz, and then the next one was taken by a pike. The pike hung on, I pulled hard as I was on 0.13, and I got it very close to the net and it looked about 8lb, then everything went twang and the rig went up the tree, but somehow the rig came off the connector and I never saw the float again!

Replacement rig on and back out again for another little perch, not looking good at all. I tried the waggler where I had been feeding maggots, it was just very tiny bleak, and trying 2 or 3 maggots didn't help as I just missed bites. I kept feeding it hoping some chublets would show, but I went onto the crowquill for nothing, then back onto the pole. I tried my roach rigs, nothing, but on the pencil with a slow drop I could catch a five to the ounce bleak, great not doing that. Mat Challenger had walked up and told me Dean had a bream, Steve was getting chublets on the waggler and he saw Kev catch a few roach. I went through my rigs and rods and couldn't find anything to work at, other than sitting on the flat float for the very odd small perch but even then another even bigger pike grabbed one of my few fish.

The match for me was much like my last few outings, disappointing for me and unable to make something happen that would make a difference and just not getting any bites other than from the very odd tiny fish. I spent the last 90 minutes mostly on the feeder / flat float for not much really,  but I did get soaked as it rained heavily for the last hour lol. Quite happy today when the match ended.

I packed up in the rain and removed multiple large orange slugs from my luggage, couldn't get the damn slime of my fingers for ages lol. I knew I was going to be pretty much last, I thought I might have 3lb at most. Kev above me had 6lb 10oz, lots of small roach on the whip and pole. I had just 3lb 6oz, then below on 7 Steve Skelton was top weight in our section with 11lb 1 of chublets on the waggler, the very fish I couldn't catch, well done Steve. Dave Lewis in 10 snared a bream with some early roach for 8lb 4oz, but Den below him had 1oz more with a similar net. Si Greening let me off last as he had 3lb 1oz, and Ivan on 16 had 7lb 12oz, a fair few small fish on a mixture of pole and maggot feeder.

That's my last two matches up here at Newbridge being a disaster, and I am slight perturbed by this since I really cannot say what it is I have done wrong. I can usually make something work, but these last two matches have been tough and I have been battered both sides both times yikes! Ah well, just gotta keep going and hope to draw on a pile of fish lol.

Winner on the day was team mate Geraint Powell with 19lb 14oz. Geraint was at Rotork, he balled the pole line & had 5lb roach & perch in the 1st hour, followed by 3 Bream.
2nd Sam Johnson of Sensas Nomads 18lb 14ozs, he was also at Rotork , and had a few Bream plus bits.
3rd Graham Hunt of  Bathampton B, 18lb 4oz
4th Rob Mann’s Preston Innovations Thatchers 14lb 14oz.
5th Warren Bates 11lb 12oz
6th Stephen Skelton 11lb 1oz.

Teams on the day
A Div
Preston Innovations Thatchers 14
Sensas Nomads 12
Moselle Bathampton A 10

B Div
Midland Spinner 14
M & N Electrical Services 13
Moselle Bathampton B 9

Good start for the team despite my performance. So happy with that of course.

I am not sure what I will do next weekend, Saturday I am helping some juniors out at Bitterwell lake again, will see if I go Sunday or not during the week. After that it is the postponed holiday at Viaduct, so I need to sort some gear out for carp and silvers on lakes. It seems a long time ago since I did that, will have to sort some gear, bait and drinking head out!