Plugging away till the end pays off..

Had a few hours spare this afternoon. Grabbed the opportunity to get up to the Canal.  Following Sundays match I thought I would Pike fish the Wilcott Straight section.  All of us during the match had Pike in our swim and Brian Shutler hooked one during the match.  Whilst Alan Brown had reported hooking "something" whilst plumbing up.  Not sure but I think I did the same.

So I started on the gold mepps spinner down by the iron bridge and hooked a 1 lb + Perch and the tiniest Pike maybe 9 oz.  Almost straight away but after lots of twigs etc , I changed over to a shallow diving plug.

 Another small Jack around 2.5 lb was to follow before a barren spell and time for a move.  I moved up to the edge of the cricket pitch and Brian Shutlers match peg.  After several tangles , hooking my jacket and my 42 inch specimen landing net. I eventually landed the plug in the middle of an explosion of fish leaping from the water.  In a flash the the rod bent round and a Pike hung low and dogged after 3 or 4 minutes it went solid and I started pull a branch around 5 inches in diameter, but no fish.  Dammit that was good one.

Tried for another half an hour to re-hook it with no joy.  So I headed up toward the bridge and the winning pegs from Saturday and Sundays match. Big Bream were rolling and feeding and after clipping one with the plug; I ditched it straight away and went to a dead bait rig.

Had one good run straight away but struck to early, and felt the fish drop the bait. nothing for 20 minutes so I final move to just short of Wilcot Bridge. With daylight fading as the low sun dipped below the horizon; I decided to fling the dead "smelt" toward the bow end of the opposite boat.  Just as I decide to pack up in failing light the bubble float dipped and veered right.  Not wanting to hook the fish deep I decided to wind down and hit it early. Solid!!!!!!!!

But wait the solid was accelerating away toward the bridge. Rod tip low  turned it back and inexorably I won the day.  A beautiful lady graced the net.

Twenty Nine inches long and 9 lb 15 oz a beaut; but I will be back because as I netted her another Pike half as big again followed her to the net.  A great few hours to end the year. Roll on 2014.

Pewsey end of year bash (Part 2) Careful what you wish for....

It was with joy that I overslept and was faced by a number of obstacles intent on stopping my day. A minus 3 temp meant the Flyer had ice inside and out as I had left my wet kit in overnight and the condensation had frozen.

The Garage door lock had also frozen, oh why didn't I do my bait for today last night?  The bait fridge had gone into overload , so I took a block of iced squat, and pinkie + a solid lump of caster and tin of hemp.

Broke the zip on me Jeans, snapped a shoelace, and spilt hot tea in my crutch.  Finally one of my dogs vomited in the kitchen and the wife demanded I clear it up before I leave.

Then we (me and the flyer) faced the roads together; dead dodgy they were black ice and even a light dusting of snow across the ridge from Everleigh and down Pewsey vale White Horse hill.

The draw started as I finished my booked breakfast, so it was with indigestion and some trepidation that I dipped my hand in the bucket and prayed I didn't get the boats.

Yippee, Wilcott straight. W6, drawn I tried to find a Mr Andrews (Melksham Angling) who had caught nearly 2 lb of it yesterday.

He was unavailable , but I was told that he had used loads of ground bait, as had Kev Rowles on the peg to his right Kev had  had a 2 lb Bream and a load of smaller fish for 4 lb +.

Today I had Pete Passmore to my right on Kev Rowles winning peg, good angler by all accounts and he had won his Crab Apple section yesterday with 5+.

On my left right next to an inside moored boat was Pewsey's own Paul Giddings.

I made that fateful error today of not fishing my own match.  After positioning all my bait at an angle that the weak winter sun could hit it, I hoped it would defrost it enough to make it move!!

This forced my hand a little bit, the hemp was solid in the tin and this left worm or bread.

I fancied bread on the inside so placed a small nuggett at the drop off of the inside shelf then instead of starting there like I normally do.  I went across as Mr Passmore on my right had already had two fish across.

His swim and Alans to his right was in the shade of the trees and houses that cover that bit by the bridge, and its clear the fish like the cover there.  So I wasted nearly 20 minutes tryying to catch across.  Holding my hand up to stop the sun which was low and perfectly in my eye line.  The bristle on the float was difficult to see against the tree shadows and sun but I percievered. No luck though , so must get back to my plan and fish bread.  The bites were barely detectable just a dimple.  The fish must have just been sitting there bait in their mouths not really wanting it.

However three fish in ten minutes and then nothing.  Lots of leaves and twigs so I came of the bottom slightly but no joy.  Losing my battle of nerves with Mr Passmore I tried to emulate his tactics and basically blew it.  Should have stuck with my own game plan. (JD on my shoulder, looking stern saying, blinkers on Gary fish your own match).

Two hours in and nothing but twigs and leaves since my fish.  Passmore now had around 25 fish for a pound and Alan Brown to his right had just had a dog 8 oz Perch twitching a worm.  Paul Giddings had also had two net-able Perch and 1 Roach against the Boat next to him.  Leo came along for a chat and it appeared it was tough all along except fro Pete Passmore.

The squat was dead and the pinkie not much better.  It would hardly kill it to pile in the bait as both the bait and the swim was dead anyway. Pete appeared to be baiting with plenty and it was working for him. So I picked out a few live hook baits and dumped the rest in. Went over the bait and within seconds I had a glorious sail away bite, I gingerly kept the tip of the pole in the water and pulled slowly against the weirdest kiting sort of fish as I have ever played.  Not fighting but just side to side.  I was just debating weather to net or swing in when it surfaced.  It was a bloody Brussell sprout!!!!  Obviously some boaters veg peelings flung over the side.  PG shouted down, very festive but you cant weigh it in!

So I ended the misery and shouted the all out.  Last in my section.  Not disappointed only slight bonus fish had done it for everyone else.  Even Spanners had struggled with 13 fish for 9 oz.  Brian had a few more for  13 oz and lost a Pike.  Must do some spinning for Pike along this stretch. Dave Johnson had 5 for 6oz. PG's bonus fish had pushed him to nearly a pound; and Alan's dog Perch was the only difference between me and him.  So it was a deserved win for Pete and Maximum points over the two days.

The Boats had not bettered yesterday. Steve Dean drew exactly the same peg and DNW. Si Burden doubled my 8 oz from B2; but it was the same flying pegs between Cables and bay that did it again.  Mr Rich Whitmarsh taking it by half an ounce.

Finally the Crab Apple section produced the better weights again, but down on yesterday. 

Kev Chubb takes it with Gary Etheridge second. Close between James Carty and Mike Bernstein only half an ounce in it.

Careful what you wish for. Two really hard frosts on the nights preceding the matches had not helped, even a little cat ice in the edge. No boats sure, but no extra fish either.

Mixed emotions for me.  Annoyed I didn't fish my own match, pleased that despite the score sheet there was little difference between me and all but Pete in my section.  Clearly every fish counts, you cant afford to swing em in during the winter (note Ian!). So 4 bites 3 Roach and a brussel Sprout! That would be a BBQ and salad to some!

A huge thank you to JC for organizing, and generating ten new members for the club. Additional thanks to the Golden Swan a lovely draw venue I would recommend it.

A big well done to the top Three

1. Pete Passmore two section wins (18 points) and a total weight of 7 lb 12 and half ounces
2. Kev Chubb 1st and second in section (17 points) with a total weight of 6 lb 10 oz
3. Richie Whitmarsh 1st and 3rd in section (16 points) with a total weight of 7 lb 3 oz

Pewsey end of year bash (Part 1)

So it was with great joy that I jumped into the flyer this morning and headed of to the Golden Swan at Wilcott, for the draw.  James Carty has arranged his normal end of year bash on the Pewsey Canal.  The house has felt claustrophobic and suffocating; so to fish is to breath again.

As I slipped from side to side on the icy roads I noticed Mike (Buzzer) Bernstein my rear-view mirror.  All the way there I chanted a new litany "yes I am on the canal, anything but the boats" over and over.  James briefed the audience on payout and points system.  He announced the sections as , one at the Crab-apple, one at Wilcot and one at you've guessed it at the boats!!!!

Still with around thirty anglers what was the chances of me drawing the boats again?

Well bloody good actually as that's just what I did..  Still not to worry it would be impossible for me to draw low again, surely I would be in the high numbers up by the bay past the cables.

JC explained my "normal peg 4" was in fact peg 1. So as long as I didn't draw that ................ well I didn't but I did draw peg 2!!!! I had Bob Davis Swindon Talisman on my right and Mike Bernstein Garbolino Black-more Vale on my left. See below.

The Match itself was a non event for most of us in the Boats section.  Despite being 20 paces further along the bank than normal, the boat traffic and lack of skilled boat driving was killing my peg and the pegs either side of me.  

My only consolation was with an hour to go I was ahead of Buzzer and the two to his left.  Bob on peg one was positively bagging having had 6 fish in a row in under two minutes.  

Now the Boats were taking the piss three abreast and revving there engines for fun.  The canal was now like Mulligatawny soup.

 Buzzer snagged a 6 oz Perch on a bit of worm and Steve Dean was coming back with 4 fish in a row.  Me I was struggling. Mike agreed without the Perch I had him beat, but to be honest it didn't matter.  When I shouted the all out, I had had 8 bites , 8 fish and at the weigh in 8 oz.

I did the boards for our Section,. So having never been further than peg 5 before.  I wasn't surprised to get a nose bleed going that far along the bank!!

Mike and Gary (between the wires and the bay) had duked it out fish for fish in a ding dong battle. With Mike showing his class and pipping Gary by 2.5 oz. 

 Brian Shutler (other end peg by the wires) was third. Bob Davis a creditable 4th considering the boats. Mikes Perch meant he had pipped me. Steve's late run had tied him with me and poor old Pete 5 fish for 3 oz.

Wilcot straight was tough as well.

Kevin Rowles bagging first with a lovely 4 lb 10 oz, Kevin Chubb second with 3 lb 7 oz .   P Andrews third with 1 lb 15 and a half ounces; Match organiser JC taking fourth.

All the best weights came in the Crab Apple Tree section.

 End Peg Paul Giddings and P Passmore with great weights.  R Whitmarsh third with several 2 lb + weights following.

Hope I draw there tomorrow. Well done to big Mike Marsden. A smile of satisfaction and realisation at last, that what people have been telling him " hes a very good angler" is true after all.

The 2013 Blogscars Or Fishing OSCARS

Is it really a year since I wrote the following.....................

Welcome to Mid Section Blues. My name is Gary , I am old, and after returning to Match Fishing - struggling to succeed.  The inspiration for this blog was to share with all those like me the frustrations of those of us brave souls; who turn out to every match pay our pools and struggle against the superstars of local match angling. 

It is hoped this blog is the catalyst/lucky charm that will - just for once - help the underdog to catch that one fish, that will give me a section win.  A man can only take 2nd or 3rd in section or one place of the money so many times!  Is it too much to ask? 

 If you are looking for a quick fix, short cut to success,or a eureka comment you wont find it here. Just the trials and tribulations of the nearly man. Read on and enjoy the struggles .........

.........................now 94 posts and 8 thousand 125 hits later

What A YEAR.  I have had highs and lows and added copious memories to the bank.  I have gone from the lows of jacking it all in and selling my kit, to gagging so much for it I could almost taste it.  I suppose its in time honoured fashion its the end of year Oscars OR Blogscars award ceremony time..  But wait, I could only do that if I fished full time; so I suppose its top three or bottom three as the moment expects.

Lets start with the lows.  Genuine friendship is a hard thing to come by.  For me especially as I am a cynical miserable distrustful ba****d; who opens his gob and speaks before thinking on way to many occasions.  This trait has ended friendships way to soon. But I am delighted to say that this year I have made some great friends.

 I hoped my friend John Dewberry retiring from the Army would not mean an end to sharing an occasional cup of tea and catching up.  But I miss the weekly trips to his office and having a brew, and discussing all things match fishing. Fact is nothing stays the same.  So it was a low point for me when JD (Yoda) retired. He is busy with retirement and Browning Match group; inevitably those happy days are gone. Not in the top three though...............

So this is my top three lows.

1. The Loss of my brother.  Not literally, thank Christ; but the realization that never again will I share the joy of fishing with him and catching Roach on a river.  Illness comes to us all I know, but I hope I die fishing, trotting for Dace on the Avon.  Its cruel when illness takes away your hobby. Miss you bruv.

                                                    2. April / May Paranoia about points not being recorded properly, a run of bad results even at banker venues like Todber, cold and damp weather broken kit and the flyer (van) breaking down.  Led to me almost walking away.

3. Four in one here (couldn't split em) Drawing the bay at Ladies Bridge, and ruining a good swim by falling down the bank knocking all my kit in and ending up with 13 red signal crays.  The three canal matches were I drew the boats and my swim was destroyed by boating idiots. Precious Championship points down the swannee!

Top three blokes of the year.

1. The Pewsey boys, couldn't separate them. Not a bad bloke or twat amongst them.

2. Mark Blake.  Organiser of a great tournament, all round good bloke, honest, forthcoming and a great angler.

3. Dave Moody despite being 60 years young, still god with the rod.  What a Waggler angler. "Muddy".


Top three superstars now and for the future.

1. James Knight.  Watched him fish Dandys Ford.  One of the best I've seen, and I have watched Ivan Marks, Kevin Ashurst, Dave Harrel,Steve Gardner and Ian Heaps.  James is a natural talent that will pick up cash for a long time to come. Nice bloke to boot.

2. Ian Spanswick.  Pewsey Canal Angler. Purple patch run this year on the canal, so definitely angler  in the "now" category he is difficult to beat on the canal very consistent. Close run thing with long time stars Mike Marsden, Simon Burden, James Carty and Chris Rushton.

3. Daryl "the Dazzler" Mayers. Golden paw in the draw bag, can draw better than Picasso. Great commercial angler.

Top Three Kit Buys.

1. DIAWA Tourny Pro X Pole.  NUFF said.

2. Rigger Canal Platform.

3. Two Drennan waggler rods (Acolyte 14 foot and 2 piece 11 foot ultralight waggler same blank)

Top Three Venues

1.

Dandy's Ford.  Sherfield English.  Beautiful venue and facilities run buy a really nice couple.

2.  Horeshoe Lake Lechlade.  The home of the Carp Society, it is a gorgeous venue and I have to say it was a pleasure for Fisherman to receive conditions normally afforded to Golfers.  

3. Orchard Lake - New Forest.  A baggers delight.

Top Three Catches

1. Although I have won matches and sections this year.  This second place in section bag of nearly 6 lb of Roach at Sutton Benger for good team points. takes first place as I really worked hard to get the best out of the swim for the team.                                    

2. Five Carp for 66 lb + in the last hour of a Viaduct match.

3. Winning my section at Radcot in the Winter League on a tough day.

Top three Fish

1. Without Fail this1 lb + Rudd

2. On a day of dry nets its fish like these.......

3.This beautiful 12 lb 2oz Mirror Carp from the pipe swim on Pewsey Lake.

Top three lucky gits of the year

1.  Dave Docs Docherty landing a fish 5 seconds away from the 15 minutes after the whistle.  Beating me by a pound in the process.

2. Haines Angling just sneaking the Angling Times bait tech against Army team.

	Weight	Pos	Sturminster	Pos	Haines Angling	Pos
Mike Poolman	20.12oz	3	40.08oz	1	23.12oz	2
Ivan Oakey	21.00	3	23.12oz	1	21.08oz	2
Dave Critcher	25.00	1	1 lb	2	14oz	3
Craig Micalef	22.14oz	2	10.03oz	3	26.12oz	1
Hayden Mayers	3.08oz	3	5 lb	2	13 lb	1
Daryl Mayers	35.06oz	1	13.04oz	2	11.06oz	3
Carl Amman	46 lb	1	1 lb Dave Burford	3	19 lb	2
Dave Docherty	9 lb	3	43 lb Chris Perry	2	56 lb	1
Total Points		17		16		15

3. Tied here between Brian Shutler, Ian Spanswick and Daryl Mayers.  Draw bag genius, end pegs or fliers more times than anyone I know.

Top three Orgasmic moments

1. Pewsey winning the Wessex Winter league.

2. Seeing Martin Aris take a quid of Paul Giddings

3. Winning my personal contest with James Hillier Browning MG (in 90 degree heat) and contributing to the Army Team win over Andover.

Top Three Miscellaneous moments

1. Second in section beating both Dave Moody (Reids Tackle) and Mike Buzzer Bernstien (Challis Tackle), both in my section. When I was a guest of Reids Tackleat the Tackle Trade Open at Viaduct.

2.Picking up near £100.00 for coming second with my mate Steve Ware in the Eastleigh pairs comp.

3. Mark Blakes May 3 Day Tourny.

Best Three Breakfast venues / Breakfasts

1. Skevys Cafe Wincombe Industrial site , draw venue for Todber matches

2. Lakeside Cafe at Witherington Farm.  Late run from Rachael and Glen.

3. Dandys Ford only just pipped by Withy.

Best Three competitions of the year

1. Mark Blakes "alternative" May 3 Day event.  Intelligently Organised to have a good spread of cash and an all round good feeling event.


2. North Wessex Winter League.  Well done to Chris Rushton and all who had a hand in this.

3. Angling Times Bait Tech Club man comp.

Top discoveries of the Year

1. That I am not a crap angler I just suffer from "Carpus non Bitus"

2. Dino Floats. Big fan.

3. Top Anglers can be beaten!!!

So to the End and ...................................

Roll on next year and trying to improve, winning  more with Pewsey; and ensuring the promotion and survival of Club fishing. 

Christmas Match Reids Tackle - Witherington Farm.

You got to be careful when you write a blog.  That's one of the things I have noticed over the past year.  There is of course the editors prerogative, and of course, it is viewed from my view point.  Those that read this blog will know that no malice or disrespect is meant.

So to the match Withy was heaving with talent and many an ego was on the line today.  Banter was high, and although the Christmas Match is supposed to be fun, I sensed some of the egos had their game face on.  Still got a kiss from Christine Moody so my day couldn't get better it was down hill all the way now.

The weather was horrendous and even taking time over breakfast did not make the weather better.  We waited for as long as we could for the no shows and late comers but in the end the draw began.  The anglers below dived into the bucket

The Army lads Si, Danny and Neil must have been on duty and never showed.  Perhaps they were put of with the weather as bad as it was.  I bet a quid with Graham Houghton, and told James where his peg was, on Cottage Lake.  Tough draw he would unfortunately have the wind square in his face on peg 8 and with Mr Etheridge and Bri Shutler etc to contend with a hard lake.

The all in was shouted at 10.15 in and I barely heard it as it hammered down.  Although I had bagged up on Barnmoor on Thursday, it was an entirely different day today.  I was on 17 opposite my Thursday peg.  My last three matches on Barnmoor have been on 17.  I decided to take the same approach with 17 as I had on Thursday with Peg 2.  The slight difference was instead of throwing in the big balls of ground bait I cupped it in at 16 meters.

Ray started well on the point peg to my left with a 4 lb Carp first chuck to the island.  So pressure on straight away; but for a long time that was it.   Blakey was scratching well (peg 3 flier as normal) and the fish were regularly going into the net, and he had the edge on us.  Eventually I got a bite and a fish at 12.30.  If it was possible the day got worse and darker still.

"Why do we do it" said Ray next to me. "I know" says I, and I know its the shortest day but I didn't think it would get this dark so early.

My mate John (Yoda) Dewberry answered Rays question for us.  Opposite corner and side to the Lake on Peg 7, he had flung the waggler right to the Lake airator and was into a monster. After a while he coaxed it in. I couldn't see it the island was in the way, but Ray said "Game Over" that's massive.

Everything was absolutely soaked through.  Must recommend at this stage Gore Tex Diawa Tournament clothing.  I was being blasted by weather in all directions but it held up.  Even the my bait shelf has a built in rain cover nothing could stop the onslaught and gradually the pinkie , maggot bread punch and ground bait was saturated.  Ray had just had a dog Roach and I was catching on the waggler but not enough to make a difference.

The all out was called and to be honest we had all had enough and wanted to get in for Tea and Christine Moody's Cake.

They weigh occurred in atrocious conditions, thought Mark Blake had our lake he had scratched a lovely weight despite the conditions.  Sure enough 16 lb + of small roach and hybrids.  Little did I know that Yoda had two lumps in his net whilst I had done my mentor on silvers; two Carp for 30 lb 2 oz was enough to take our lake.

 Pleased with my 5 lb and not last.

With 2 hours to go I thought last was certainty.  Ray weighed in the Carp and his bits the Roach was an absolute beaut.  Shame he didn't weigh it in separately it must have been close to the magic 2 lb mark. See below.

So back for Tea and Cake and get out of the weather.  Reids tackle had really pushed the boat out with the Prizes and everybody was due to get something even if they didn't weigh in.  A really nice thank you from Reids tackle to its customers.

Took a quid from Graham who didn't weigh in, and was genuinely surprised to have pipped James C and Brian S and to have  beaten some very good anglers on the day (even Gary Etheridge didn't weigh in!).  A real boost to my moral, ending the year in better shape than I started for sure.

James and Mark discuss were it all went so RIGHT!

And after much deliberation, Mayo finally announced the winners or at least the top Three.  Now I have to own up here. To be honest I was elsewhere when the top three were announced, So I may have it wrong.  Knighter was first I know that, then it was Mark Cannings I think? and my mate JD was third with his monster Carp on the waggler.

With only one match to go this Year, that being James Carty's two day' er on the Canal 28/29 Dec, I think I will take the kit home and spend some days drying it out and cleaning it up in readiness.

Merry Christmas to all.  Don't think I have met one horrible bloke, OR a bad angler all year.  Going to have to go some, practice even harder and keep trying, but I will have my day in the sun.

Finally look out for the next blog, a traditional look back and award ceremony type thing.  Who was the best?  Don't forget its my opinion and there is no intention to "dis" anybody using a younger generations vernacular.

A Bucket of Dream Bream from Barnmoor

Got up really early to day 3 am. As I am working from home for a couple of days I thought I would crack on in the hours of darkness leaving daylight hours for fishing.  Couldn't decide whether to spin for Pike and Perch on the Canal, or fish a pleasure session for Roach.

Flipped a coin and Roach won.  It wasn't the Canal though; last minute I changed my mind and went to Witherington Farm, in the hope a might snag a pound + Roach.

 The lakes were empty, I had them to my self.  I had decided to keep it simple.  Left the pole at home, grabbed some left over bait from the weekend and sat on the first peg I came to; which was peg 3 Barnmoor.

There was a match on the lake yesterday so I guessed the fish may not be interested. The peg platform was covered in soft pellet and caster.  I dug out my bait a pitiful 3/4 pint of flouro pinkie, 1/2 pint of yellow maggot; and finally 3/4 pint dead squat.

I mixed the squat into a sweet ground bait with a tin of hemp; and balled in at 20 meters.  I set up my canal waggler (Drennan Ultralite pro match 2 piece 11 foot) Diawa whisker with 2 lb maxima line.  Rooted through the waggler box and settled on an old 4 no 4 Ivan Marks Canal Dart.  Topped it all of with Kamasan B 510 size 20.

The lake was like a sheet of glass not a breath of wind.  Just a cold December day warmed gently by a watery wintry sun which struggled not to high into the sky.  Hardly surprising as we are almost at Mid-Winter solstice and the shortest day.

The waggler sailed into the air and plopped past the baited area.  Ivan would be pleased his float still had the magic.  I submerged the rod tip and drew the pinkie bait back into the baited area; which was now fizzing away as the ground bait broke up on the bottom.  As the last number 10 shot settled and the float dotted down; it popped back up in a lift and the line arced wildly left.  The clutch screamed for a split second a Carp leapt clear of the water and 1.5 lb hook length parted mid flight.

Tied a new hook length and repeated the first cast. This one resulted in a fish on the drop.  A lovely pristine 6 oz Roach, fin perfect not a scale out of place.  It glistened in the sun.  Magic just what I had come for.

 It was clear after 8 more of these which were like peas in a pod; that a change of bait might be needed to get a bigger one.  So I tried a single yellow maggot.  The response was instant a lovely Bream around 4 lb in weight very dark in colour, really thick at the shoulder an old gnarly type of fish. Back in straight away and the fish were going one a chuck now.  Skimmer after skimmer.  All of them 2 lb+.  What a day.  Only one other guy on the lake (Johnny Grey) he was catching on the pole but not regular, and in between trips to the cafe for tea, he tried the tip as well.

I wouldn't say it was boring but I was after a pound plus Roach.  So 15 skimmers and tried a change.  Back to pinkie and more small Roach and a couple of Rudd.  Couple of guys had now sat behind me and were enjoying the Roach coming out.  Prompting tales of big Roach from the Avon etc.  A switch to double pinkie saw a move back to skimmers.  The maggots were just beginning to turn on the bank and I put on a caster.

Result a jagged little fight from a "foul hooked" - in the tail Roach around 12 oz.  Didn't count though as it was lost at the net.  Mr Moody had come out from the tackle shop to watch and say hello.  He bemoaned that he had to work, and wished he was fishing or at least if he could have drawn Barnmoor in the match the day before.  He regaled the tale of yesterdays match the awful weather and Frank and Colin's success.  After watching me land a few lovely skimmers he left me alone; chuntering something about he was jealous and wished he was sat in my place.

Johnny Grey was now catching a few, big enough to need the net.  But for me it was skimmer after skimmer.  I had been feeding a nearby edge swim and decided to try it out after a swirl.  They bait had barely hit the bottom and I was back winding a Carp that didn't know it was hooked. 5 minutes of gentle coaxing saw a lovely koi like red coloured Carp which seemed asleep, slide over of the net rim.  It woke up when I lifted the net, but too late sucker your mine.  The fish was freezing cold.

Another hook required as the thrashing fish had snapped the old hook length in the net.  Back out over the original area with a final ball of ground bait and the skimmers continued.

The weather had turned colder and a little breeze was rippling the water making it difficult to distinguish the red top float. I was just about out of bait and whilst the tackle shop was only yards away.  I decided to call it a day; AND WHAT A DAY.

A lovely Rainbow entered the Lake and although there was no pot of Gold, I had a bucketful of Bream and I was happy.

Between 9 am and 2.30 pm I had had 26 skimmers of 2 lb + a Carp around 4.5 lb as well as around 6 lb of Roach and Rudd.  60 lb + my best ever mid winters day fishing trip.  Whilst I didn't get a 1 lb + Roach I was over the moon.

It is true, I had the lake virtually to myself and I wasn't using a keep net (not allowed) and some of the skimmers may have been caught 2 or 3 times after release, but nevertheless what a day.

I will be back in a few days time for the Reid's Tackle Christmas Open match.  Whats the betting, I don't draw peg 3 Barnmoor and I blank!!!

Pewsey Boat Paranoia

After a wild night of passionate sex, thought I would go home and see the wife and pick up my fishing tackle!

Just kidding wild sex to me is socks on, lights off.

In fact it was a wild night, at least weather wise.  So it was floods and blocked drains again as went North to see my mates at Pewsey club.  Leaving the garage in Tidworth after fuel and a Yorkie, I suddenly realised I didn't have my gore-tex jacket and it was gonna piss down today. Better turn around.  Trouble was because I was looking over my shoulder (back into the van) in the vain hope I had left the jacket in the van; I drifted onto the wrong side of the road.

 My reward was a beautiful light display.  Well one light really a blue flashing one.  Allo Allo Allo what have we here. Morning Officer can I help.  Yes you seem to be unsure of which side of the road to drive on, please blow into this.  Of course I was clear.

All was well and now it was too late to go back home, so onward to the draw.

Hoping for a decent draw.  Those that follow the blog will be aware of the disastrous matches I have had on the boats, with boats moving and swims ruined.  Cant draw higher than peg 5.  In fact had peg four twice in a row.

So I left it till there was only one peg in the hat.  And drew out you've guessed it Peg 4!!!!!! Give me strength.

It was the only peg on the entire stretch, that actually had two boats lashed to each other.

There was room between the boats to get a rig across, and it was a massive 12 inches deep.  Inside line of bread.  A ground bait line off the red and white band of "sunrise" to the right.

 The section I was in was a section of death.  To my left Kevin Chubb, Paul Giddings, Spanners (for once not on a end peg), Carl and James "Legend" Carty.

To mt right I had Alan, Brian Shutler, and Chris Rushton two weeks in a row he had drawn the end peg.  I would be lucky to get a fish let alone a point for my championship total.  If you recognize the names its because they feature as top three week in and week out.

 The match started and it was one a chuck for me and I quickly built up nearly a pound. Amazingly Alan to my right wasn't catching and that great canal angler wasn't catching either.  In fact I had six fish in the net before Kev had his first bite.  Now I am susceptible to a little bit of Paranoia, but I reckon I have wronged someone in a previous life.  Just as I was flying you've guessed it

"Morning!  says the boat owner as he starts his engine.  I say starts. It struggled to spark so he added a little diesel to the primer and the canal.  So I had a lovely slick across the canal coupled with the lovely smell of diesel!  Then for good measure he started up churned the swim for a while before chugging off toward Marlborough.

I know you think I make this up, that nobody can be that unlucky to draw the same area three times and get a boat destroy the swim 3 times but its true.  Just ask the anglers around me, they probably stopped pissing themselves laughing by now.

So that was it for the rest of the match the fish moved right to Alan, and left to Kevin.  I had one more fish.

The day grew dark I got soaked through (without my coat) and the midwinter light levels made it difficult to see in the last  minutes.  We all packed away and headed back to the car park. Best I could hope for was to be near the mystery weight and win the bottle of Port.

Difficult to see due to the dark and wet paper.

 End Peg Rushton has 1 lb 5.5oz

Brian Shutler 1 lb 2 oz

Alan 2 lb

Me 1 lb 2.5oz 

Kev 1 lb 7 oz

PG 2 lb 6 oz

Carl Amman 13 oz

Spanners 2lb 6 oz

James Carty 3 lb 2 oz

 The top numbers on up to Bristows bridge.  Apparently very nice up that way.  Wouldn't know cant draw that high.

Sorry I get some of these wrong it is from memory on a very wet and dark day.

Steve Hiscock 8 oz

Mick Moorhouse 1 lb 15 oz

Steve Dean 2 lb 7 oz

Mike Marsden 2 lb 12.5 oz ( pound coin from Chris Rushton)

Dave Johnson 1 lb 11.5 oz

Danny Jones 1 lb 13 oz

Simon Burden 2 lb 13 oz

Martin Aris 14 oz

Derek Hillier 1 lb 15.5 oz

So a poor 4 points for me.  Me thinks I deserve a little luck.  Thank Christ the two day comp at the end of the month is not on the boats.

Well done to Steve Hiscock for the mystery weight (6oz) he was closet with 8 oz.

Steve Dean picks up a brown packet for section by default.

Probably the most important tussle of the day and Chris is reluctant in handing over the quid in his personal battle with Mike Marsden.

Trust me that hurt.

So Top three

James Carty 3 lb 2 oz

Simon Burden 2 lb 13 oz

Mike Marsden 2 lb 12.5 oz

A tight old day.  If only's don't come into it, I know, but after pound in the first hour i could have challenged if not for moving boats.  Still we could all say that.

Withy for the Reids Christmas open on Saturday.  Fancy a waggler on Barnmoor see you there.