Pewsey Club - Back on the Straight and Narrow at Wilcot

On a downer mid week after the highs of last weeks Winter league title, so the enthusiasm was low however on the rise again today; and whilst not back to my normal gagging to fish mode. I was definitely more up for it than in Chippenham on Wednesday.

 Waiting for the draw on a cold Morning.

Back on Wilcot straight, always a chance of a bigger fish on this stretch, but that was balanced by the possibility of dry netting.  Last time I fished this stretch was the end of April and I came fourth (1 lb 13.5 oz) just behind Spanners (3rd) Kev Chubb (2nd) and Mike who had 1 lb 6 oz silvers and a bloody 3 lb Tench.

Looking back to Chris on Peg 13 Wilcot Village in the distance

That Tench has not been forgotten all season and Mike has constantly been reminded of it.  New members abound today with Brian Shutler, Si Burden and Danny Jones swelling the numbers.  This is great news for the club, the banter remains high and the friendly feel remains.  Though there is no doubt its going to make it harder to Championship points. I may regret it but have gone a quid with Si Irwin -sucker for punishment.  Question is where are the fish?  Section one back towards the village, or down in section 2 bottom end of Wilcot lane toward the Iron bridge.

I was on 14 and didn't like the look of it.  Featureless shallow and looking barren.  Couldn't see why Leo thought it would fish well but took his word for it that I stood a chance.  Si set up quick and came along for a chat, things were not going well.  Initially I had not listened at the draw and had set off to the wrong section!! Once I got to my peg, nothing was going right we only had an hour to set up and I spent to long setting my platform in the canal.  Then the zip jammed on my pole bag and I couldn't get my pole out.  So it was nice to chat with SI but the all in was called and I was not ready.

I need not have worried I had  all the time in the world.  In fact I had another two hours !!! Before I had my first bite.  Chris to my right had 7 fish in the net by then. But first bite on 2 mil punch resulted in a fish so I had avoided the ignomy of dry netting.

  I must be rank last, Roly to my left has his elastic well out, but I needn't have worried as it turned out to be a Tesco bag for life.  Chris shouted down that Tesco bags didn't count, only Marks and Spencer ones did!!  Si wanted to know if there was any shopping in it as he was cold and starving. 

As the temperature dropped,  the water was clearing and the shallows (15 inches deep) across had small fish pipping on the top.  Soon as I put a pole out the scattered, I set up a waggler with a 2 BB Stillwater blue float and pinged some pinkie across, perhaps the pole not over them they would feed. Another hour and a quarter passed before I had three more the same size one the smallest perch you have ever seen on twitched worm.  So I know had four fish for a massive 2 oz.  That was it;  I was getting a leaf or twig every cast or drop in the pole.

Three boats came through with 20 minutes to go and despite dropping in behind them I had bugger all.  I decide to come of the bottom again and shallowed of to around six inches of bottom down the track. Twitching almost jigging a pinkie the float sailed away, I lifted the rod into a pleasing curve and watched the line cut away left.  I reached for the bone dry landing net and slid it under a Perch which I estimated as pound.

The all out was called and it was clear our section had struggled.  The weigh in ensued and to my delight I had taken a quid from Si Irwin, undeserved but gratefully received.  Chris's good start and steady scratching of tiny fish saw him surely taking our section so it was really how the other end had fished to decide whether I had any or no Championship points.

Leo tots up the scores and its clearly the other section was where the fish had shoaled up.

Golden Bollocks, Spanners has drawn another end peg and makes it pay with a terrific 5 lb 11 oz.  The other two protagonists that make up the top three in the Championship, Si B and Paul Giddings take second and third respectively.  With every other angler in the section getting respectable 2 lb + weights.  Danny takes section by default in his first club match well done Danny.

Back in the real world section 2 could not compare.  Chris had taken first with 1 lb 8 oz. Well done Captain.

Another new guy (Paul Mallone) I think; at least I not seen him before had 1 lb 2 oz had second with Kev Chubb and I sharing third with a pound. Thank god for Perch. 5 Championship points I think not good enough but not a dry net small blessings.  So the usual subjects increase their lead and take the money.  Well done lads.

Left to Right Danny Jones and Chris section winners. With Top Three Si Burden Spanners and Paul Giddings top three.

Army 2 Chips are down again at Chippenham Avon.

Early start again to go across the plain through Devizes and onto Chipenham.  As normal, we met at the Wetherspoons on the bridge over the Avon.  Carl pegged yesterday and double checked this morning , so I collected fees and pools.  I drew A11, which was in the park up from town on the way to the Golf course.

The swim looked good 9 foot deep, at my feet, 12 foot down the track, shallowing up to 5 feet on far side.  The water was 5 degrees and clear in the edge.  The match started and I had a small roach first drop. Having ground baited with casters and hemp and a little squat. I was hoping for a good day.

A local angler squatted behind me and told me he had drawn my swim two weekends running.  I asked how he had fished it.  He said caster over hemp, he told me I was fishing the right line and that the pegs down stream would do better especially by the bridge (A5 , A6).  Finally he gave me the terrific news that my swim would fish well for an hour and then die!!!!!!!!!  If it goes well you will get 2.5 lb if bad it would be ounces.  Cheers I said.

Well he wasn't far out, after 20 minutes with only one bite I scaled down to a 22 and a pinkie, an got another bite.  The river sluice was automated and the fish fed better when it was running off.  I did catch for the first 1 hr 20 minutes. Then nothing for the rest of the match.  Nige came to weigh me in Rob to my left had blanked, the scales registered exactly 1 kilo (2.2 lb) but after shaking the water off, Nige gave me 0.990 grams tight git. So I guess the local guy was bang on.

I followed the scales down a few pegs, people like Jimmy Bond didn't have much more than me , but what they did have was a bonus roach or two.  All my fish were small just needed a bonus Perch or Roach but it wasn't to be.  Midsectionblues with 4 team points.

B Section The low weights continued on the pegs above me in this section. Until you got to the favored golf course end, with fellow Orphan Carl Amman picking up 3 team points.  Yoda (JD) and Mike Poolman proving their pedigree on this water.

C section was better still with Brian Shutler picking up 3 kilo +Kev East  maintaining his good start to the year 3 kilo+.  Fellow Dave Critcher 1.160 kilo and 4 points for the team.  Ivan Oakey weighing in a stonking 5 kilo 750 well done Ivan a cracking weight from Riverside Drive.

Nomads are flying with a team 3 point Total.

Ivan wins it, Dave Griffiths 2nd and Yoda 3rd. Weird sort of day, didn't feel like it much, the cold rain and hail dampened it further.

Still Fur and Feather to come in December.  Must book in.

Pewsey Winter League - tight as a ducks ass

What a day.  Van wouldn't start!!! Too heavy to push with all the kit in, but with a superhuman effort (I am so muscular) managed to get it on to my drive slope.  Thought I would role it out of the way and transfer kit to my car. Who says you cant bump a diesel, as I picked up speed I dropped the clutch and she chugged in to life.  Rev the shit out of her and the black smoke billowed into the dank morning air.

Draw was earlier today so barely time for a bacon butty and cold tea.  There was nervous tension among the lads, and the confidence that we were going to over haul Radcot and ISIS, was not so strong. We were third going in to the match Radcot top 97 points, Isis 2nd on 96 and P1 third on 95.  Chris did the draw, and we had peg 4.  Me personally C Section in the boats. Off the Wharf.

 Boats have never been good for me.  Those that follow the blog will note our club match a few weeks ago where the boat in front of me moved and destroyed my swim.  Today it looked peaceful enough - see below.

Smoke coming from the Chimney gave me hope that the water temp would be a couple of degrees higher tight to the boat. Individual scores showed me hanging in there with 15 points In fact with 19 points in first place, I could mathematically go for the individual crown.  That is until the beginning of the match drew near.  I was really nervous, tangling rigs snapping line etc.  At one point I swung a rig plus plummet into the track to gauge the depth and the 6 oz line snapped and whole bleeding lot disapeared out of site.  Time to get up and walk away, calm down and focus.  Isis to my right and Radcot some distance to my left.  It turns out that the entire Pewsey boat community decided to pick today to shout and ball, and stomp up and down the far side, start their engines etc.  On the whistle, the boat opposite me decided to empty the contents of the shower and breakfast sink etc into my swim.  Oh No not again it cant be, nobody can be that unlucky.

 Yes they can the entire swim filled with soap scum and a milky substance, probably killing any oxygen I had.  I decided to go long to the bow of the boat in between the two boats opposite. Then the guy on the next boat starts walking about above my swim and sweeping all the leaves and branches onto my float.

Excuse me says I.  I am trying to fish here, and have paid money etc to do so.  I would appreciate a bit of consideration could you sweep it on to the path and not in to the canal!

At which point he started tell me I shouldn't be fishing by the boats, bye laws state no fishing by the boats.

I don't want to get into a conflict, says I just trying to get some consideration.  Well says he better tell you then that I will be moving in a minute, and a while after that I will be moving back in.

Great lightning does strike twice and that is the end of my day.  Oh woe is me, how can life be so cruel.  The worst feeling descended on me as I realised I was going to blow out and let the lads down.  I was gutted.  He seemed to enjoy making as much noise as possible after that until eventually he did move and completely destroyed my swim and those to my right.  Isis Guy to my right Phil Rice did have fish in the net but I was blanking.  Steve Dean was up to around 6 or 8 ounces so he was doing well for Pew 2.  Go Stevie if I cant catch you need to shoulder the weight and knock back Isis and Radcot.

 Bank runners Leo, Jim and Pete White sympathised and passed on the news that it was as tight as a ducks ass in the other sections.  I tried everything to get a bite.  Off the bottom, down the track, laying on, far side shallow, squat, pinkie, punch and even twitching a worm along the bottom to entice a Perch.  Which did result in a suicidal 2 oz Perch, hurrah of the mark and not blanking.

Punch bought two more roach and I was up to about 3 ounces.  Then the idiot with the boat came back.  What a plank, not wanting to go and turn around he was reversing the entire length of the canal, bumping into boats, completely out of control. Ruining everyone's swim.

 At one point he had the back end of his boat in his spot and the front (bow) right across the canal sideways, what a twat.  He had completely mullered mine and every ones swim to the right.  Problem was I had 3 oz Isis had about six, and whilst neither of us caught for the next three hours I need to overhaul him. Radcot Guy to my left some way down was on a pound + apparently.  C'mon Steve beat the Isis guy.  I was beside myself anything for a fish, please god smile on me.

One good thing all the boaters had gone home or packed up, and for the last 20 minutes peace reigned. I pinged squat against the boat opposite and slid my rig in tight, so tight you couldn't get a fag paper between the boat and my rig.  In failing light the rig slid away and I had a roach back again quickly and another.  Phil (Isis) was now panicking, and said your catching me know.  One more fish before the whistle.  I was distraught, oh know I have completely let down the lads, how can I face them.

I piled the stuff up the bank and pulled the platform out of the clinging blue clay mud.  I don't think I have felt so low in such a long time.   Back to the French Horn and nervous laughter , beer and bags of crisps. Tales of "if only" and bloody boaters were exchanged whilst the scores were totted up.

Above both the teams well almost couple of people not in frame.  Good to get both teams in, well done Pewsey 2 and 1 everyone has contributed throughout this competition.  A real club effort.  No sponsorship here, reminded me a little of the old Ushers league.  Can you remember that?

Brian Shutler wins section for P2 with Mike Marsden picking up 4 points.  Radcot and Isis lagging

James Carty and Si Irwin P1 and 2 respectively tying for 2nd with 2 lb 1 oz.Radcot last and Isis struggling.

 My section amazingly the three fish in the last 5 minutes meaning I wasn't on 1 point for last, but tied on three points with Isis A and B.  Result, and thanks to my mate John Dewberry and Leo who I felt were on my shoulder saying fish as best you can till the bitter end.  Sadly Radcot won the section but well done Stevie Dean P2 for his 4 points and knocking back Isis further.

Paul Giddings takes the section for Isis, Radcot 2nd, and Kev Chubb only just behind for P1 in third.  Well done Martin almost got the Isis B.

Go Spanners a good 5 points and and Dave Hillier 3 points knocking Radcot back.

 Top weights from this section, including a bloody Gold fish would you believe. Yes a Goldfish on the canal whatever next. Radcot win here bad news but Chris and Si Burden do well.  Chris (Captain Fantastic) gets section by default.

 Well done Lee Pollard (Lechlade) individual winner of the comp.  But after much tension the scores are totted up for the team event. We have overhauled Isis and they are third and we amazingly are tied with Radcot on 119 points.  Rules are checked and we take it based on count back weight, having 10 lb + more over all the matches.
Yes get in there you beauty.

 Back to clubland matches next week.  Wilcot straight section.  Hope I don't get a boat. Ended up 11th with 18 points 6 points of the top place.  Well done to all the Pewsey boys

   

Pewsey Remembrance Sunday

Remembrance Sunday started with a poppy red sky, giving way to a blue cold and frosty one. I stopped in Tidworth for fisherman's breakfast - sausage roll and vimto + fuel for the flyer.

 Before the match began, all of us observed 2 minutes silence and gave our thoughts and thanks to those Pewsey men, indeed all of those who have left Wiltshire and these shores never to return home again; in defence of our freedom.

Lest we forget.................

I blew the whistle to end the silence and start the match. Turn out was low today, with I was a little unsure how to approach the day two hard nights of consecutive frost on the back of a week of cold rain falling onto the lake will bound to have affected the fishes feeding patterns.  Could be a day to scratch a bag of snotties together canal style.

Now I am not saying there is fiddling going out at the draw, just sheer coincidence perhaps. Spanners had the pipe swim 12 again!  Chris had 9 again? Carl had 10 again (won of that last time) and Jimmy 15 again!  Me I had 5 last time I drew this one was at the beginning of the season.  After two hours in that match I was asking my fellow club mates if there were any fish in the lake; and it was the same today.  Two hours with no bite.  Clearly winter is right on our doormat.  Leaves are down and covering the lake bottom; any colour has dropped out of the water completely and you could see the bottom 5 feet down with no problems. Took the water temp and it was down again this time to 3 degrees; and to quote one of the 3 degrees hits, I felt like givin up' givin in' or even singing to the fish - "when will I see you again?"

But I persevered, I had Brian Shutler and Chris + Carl in my section.  Will T was doing his normal; shit or bust for Carp - I didn't see Carp moving or even likely to bite.  Roly was back after a triple heart by pass, so he was just glad to be on the bank again.  Chris was catching snotties, and Brian was bumping fish on the pole.  Elastic too strong.  Whilst he was catching on a light waggler.

I was now of the bottom and trying different shotting patterns etc.  Nothing was working nothing.  The pole seemed to be spook the fish that were up in the water. The clear water not helping.  The normally reliable pinkie, was coming up short. Maggot was just too big a bait.  Time to change, 2 hours to go and 5 fish for around 2 oz in the net.

Cupped in a satsuma size bread nugget off the dying lily pad to my left.  Fished a long line to hand, so the pole wasn't over the fish.  Scaled down to a 22 hook 0.8 line 03 elastic and fished 3 mil bread punch. First bite, then another, and another. They were tiny fish, just out of the egg sack, but they were fish something was going in the net.  The low levels of light under the surrounding wood, and the cold dank conditions were not making it the best of days. But the calm conditions were quite nice compared to the hurricane conditions of the last two matches.

The 3 pm finish came around, not soon enough for some of us.  I could have done with another 10 minutes had em going now.  Brian strolled along to see what I had, and tell me that Chris had been catching.  Brian thought he had 8 oz.  I conservatively thought I might have the same I said, but inside I was hoping for a round a 1 lb.

My net below.

Spanners above on the fancied pipe swim. Baptism of fire for Brian on his first lake match.  Knowing him he will have learnt a lot and won't do the same again, god help us in the next match.

So to the results:

Simon Burden takes the match with one 7 lb 9 oz Carp and six ounces of tiny silvers, with Jim struggling in the other flier.  Spanners takes the silver fish pool and second with 1 lb 15 oz.  Chris and I tie for third place with 1 lb 3 oz.  Good points 8 each for both of us, but with the top two in the Championship doing well nothing gained there, except on those not attending.

The spoils are divided up. Si takes first place £20 and his section £5. Ian takes £15 for second; but with both not going in the super pools.  Chris and I share section money £5, super pools £30 and £10 for 3rd place. A welcome £22.50 each.  Pick up two weeks running great stuff.

Left to right yours truly, Spanners, Simon, and Chris Rushton.

Next week the final round of the North Wessex Winter League.  Will the above feature lets hope so - Go Pewsey!!

North Wessex Winter League - Pewsey close in on Radcot

Stormy night meant many floods again! Branches down and dustbins in the middle of the road.  I was glad to go north through and leave the black brooding thunder clouds over Salisbury in my rear view mirror.  In front of me the weak winter sun tried hard to ignite a bright late autumn day.

Team dilemma for Captain Chris, Si Irwin had fished well at the last match and deserved a place in team 1, but Leo was back so who to drop.  Not an easy decision so I offered reluctantly to fall on my sword.

  I was deep in thought regretting my offer,  my mind not really on the road when a Roe deer ran right to left, across me in Savernake.  How I missed it I don't know.  Before I had gone another 50 yards, and wondering if I had left a deposit in my shorts; two more Muntjac deer, ran the other way left to right.

Heart thumping and wondering if I had used my luck for the day, talking of luck, well done to Gummy in Reids tackle.  On entering the tackle shop yesterday he greeted me with delight.  " I won a £100.00 on you mid week" he says.  Turns out he had put £10.00 on a horse called "Fat Gary" at 10 to 1. It romped home.  Tight git wouldn't share though.

I joined a queue of traffic on the straight road between Marlborough and our meeting place at Chisledon Garage.  In the queue ahead where several of the lads, and there lives were put at risk by a dodgy driver who didn't understand that pulling over to overtake, when you have a slow car and traffic is bearing down from the the other direction is not a good idea.  I hate pillocks like that, bet he was still pissed from last night, he was all over the place and like I say risking the lives of everyone else.

On arriving at the meeting, news that Leo was not turning out as his back injury had flared up, left me feeling pleased to be back in team 1, but feeling sorry for Leo and Team 2 who were now 1 short.

Chris did the draw and we got peg 4 not 5 , that makes a change.  Another change meant I was not fishing next to Si Burden.  I had A section down stream from Grafton Lock, boat Yard.

Boat Yard

My Swim force 8 gale square in my face. 10 feet of water right below me.

Looking back up stream to peg 3 and 2.  As you can see lovely slack in peg 3s inside. shame you cant fish up stream!  5 foot drop to the water no chance of getting in without rope and tackle. The bank I was on was crumbling a little under my feet so I was dubious about getting too close.  Had to though other wise my keep net wouldn't reach the water.

On chatting with the home team Radcot guys it seems that mine is a good pleasure peg but doesn't produce in matches.  Bream are known to be in the swim and bread picks up the occasional chubb.

The all in and I decided to cup in with a tin of hemp and 5 balls of ground bait laced with Caster and squat.  The match progresses and the local lads are all fishing feeder on the pole.  In short the wind which didn't relent all day and was square in my face was making presentation difficult.  Waggler wasn't working and ,one gudgeon on the tip.  Time to dig out 5 gram a lollipop float.  That didnt really work , needed flowing water, and whilst it was flowing , it was flowing in different directions and swirling and turbulent.

So dug out a 2 gram carbo rugby ball float.  Bulked up the shot around 8 inches from the float, fished over depth and held back.  The fish didn't seem to want big baits so I scaled down to a 22 and fished pinkie.  Couple of fish then nothing, 10 minutes later another two fish.  That's how it went and so I scraped together a small fish bag.  Occasionally trying a bigger bait or bread with no joy.  The all out is called and I cant wait to go home I was cold and uncomfortable as the stomach cramps had returned with a vengeance.

So back to the pub for a sandwich and the results.

Martin bags a double.

Scores on the doors shows me winning £20.00 for my section but more importantly 6 points (3 lb 15.5  oz) and bashing the Radcot (back to 5th) guy to close the gap. ISIS  B was second ISIS A 3rd

The normal safe bet Kev Chubb, winner of the last match struggled to 2 points with Steve Dean bringing up the rear. Radcot had a couple of Chubb to get 8 lb +

Team Captain Chris Rushton bags a monster Chubb to win the section.  Another 6 points. Poor old Martin scratches and stalls his recent improvement.

Mike Marsden grabs vital 5 points for 2nd. Derek struggles for team 2.

Roles reversed here as Si Burden picks up 5 points for team 2.  With Spanners a rare last place, perhaps he is human after all.

 Si Irwin struggles to 8.4 oz in this tough section with Stevie Hiscock dry netting.  One more fish for the Radcot guy who gains one more point with 4 drams more. If only it had gone the other way.

Overall results, Isis come through to win the match Pewsey 1 are 3rd with Clanfield / Lechlade 2nd.  Pewsey 2 as expected being one down before they even started struggled on the day.

The competition gets tight, Pewsey 1 have 94 points and have closed on Radcot by 3 points, who now have 97.  But ISIS A put in a late surge, going to 96.

 Last leg in a few weeks.  On our home venue the Canal.  Squeaky bum time.  C'mon Pewsey.

Second time this week Fat Gary has picked up.  Home for a shower and a bit of grub.  See you next week.