Pewsey Canal Championship Bowdens Bridge.

Why do we do it?  I woke this morning feeling like crap. I suppose it was the expected horrendous weather, coupled with the dark morning. I plain didn't want to go.  Not wanting to let the lads down especially Leo (Match Secretary), he would have been up early in bad weather pegging and had no doubt taken many a booking for today's match. Its good of him , as he is not fishing due to a back injury.  Shows what a good bloke he is and the efforts he puts in for the club.

Second reason was having got one over on Spanners mid week, I had become really brave and gone a pound and didn't want him to think I had bottled out.

So we gathered in the worsening rain for the draw at the old swing bridge. Only 11 of the expected 20 (letting Leos work down) turned up. Banter was high and thoughts were of better days to come and a bit of sunshine.  The Championship is all but over for this season with only extraordinary results going to pull it away from Ian "Spanners" Spanswick.  Fair play to him, hes been Mr Consistent this year.  

My targets today were to close the gap on Chris Rushton and Paul Giddings (both on 116 points compared to me on 106 points), and take a quid from Ian.  As I looked around the 11 that had turned out would be tough to get points against.. Miracle I draw my first end peg this year, and race of avoiding the damage on the towpath from the overnight storm.

The match started and once again I was 5 minutes of being ready.  The persistent rain and very cold wind was making it hard to keep the fingers dexterous. The canal had about 10 inches to a foot of extra water so I was glad to have some longer rigs on board.  Rumour had it I was in skimmer country so I went for slightly heavier elastics than the normal 2 and 3.  Plan was to find some deep water and fish punch.  Separate ground bait and pinkie swim.  A choppy line and a shallow line across fishing squat over hemp and a few caster.

The next 5 hours was tortuous had a couple of bites before a trio of Kayaks came through, destroying inside and far lines and not exactly helping the track line.  The fish were so tiny that on some occasions I'll be honest I was only lifting in to check bait, when I noticed a fish on.  The 6 elastic was bumping fish so I got up and went to my kit for lighter elastics and changed over.  Despite my covered bait tray the bread was soaked , the pinkie was frothing and crawling every where and it was shambles.  My cold soaking hands fumbled at the pinkie tray, and then knocked it over. Would have been nice to be under a brolly with a tip rod and some hand warmers (Christmas present from bruv), but couldn't today

It wasn't just me though Danny was struggling on the next peg, or though Danny had lost a Carp which was on for around 15 minutes.  News from Leo who was pacing the bank, frustrated not to be fishing was everyone except Paul on peg one was struggling.  So to the weigh in and a 6 ounce perch "helped"! me to 20 fish and 1 lb 7 and half ounces.

Leo did the weigh in quickly as the clouds were building again. 

My Net.

I am  midsectionblues, but 6th in match and 10 valuable match points. Managed to scrape back 3 points from Chris, but PG pulls away. Pleasing to be half an ounce of Kevin Chubb, to beat Danny and Ian twice in one week, and nice to take the scalp of Garbolino Blackmore Vales Mike Buzzer Bernstein.

With great pleasure I take the pound!!

Kev Chubb and Rich Whitmarsh take their sections by default - I was only half an ounce away from section by default.

And the sun comes out for the top three photo. Brian Shutler Si Burden and Paul Giddings the winner.

So there is only one thing left to do.  Home for tea get a cloth shine up the pound and then 

Frame the bloody thing!!

Resurrection of the Mentor

Short blog here, but another Pic from yesterdays match.  You cant keep a good man down.  I have always thought my friend and mentor Yoda walked on water.

For various reasons hes been in the shadows.  Yesterday proved resurrection to be true. Only the truly religious and certain magicians can walk on water - add my mate to that list.

Thanks to Ben Bentley, I nicked this pic from his blog http://avoidingtheblank.blogspot.co.uk/

Before you all say it yes its another end peg flier, but you still gotta catch em.

Match 3. Dog S**T Alley

Early start today to fish with my Work mates. Group organiser the talented Kev East needed a volunteer to help with pegging so step forward the fat sucker with the beard.  Thick fog, flooded roads and getting stuck behind a guy auditioning for the "Driving Miss Daisy 2" made me irritable as I was 5 minutes late.  I hate not being punctual.

Pegged C Section at Horton bridge and then whizzed back to the Crown at Bishops Cannings for a lovely breakfast at the Crown the pub was heaving as 36+ gathered for match 3.  My guest (fellow Pewsey Angler Ian Spanswick) arrived with James Carty of Pewsey and Devizes match group. JC was a guest of Danny Jones.  After grub we chatted and waited for the draw.  I drew A section peg 2, bit of a blow really A1 is a cracker at the end of the rushes before going under the cables.  A section is the swing bridge section behind the crown pub.  B section was from the Bridge Pub up to the turning bay.

Got to the car park to see my friend and former mentor John Dewberry first, then Ben Bentley Danny Jones and a few other good Anglers.  John the jammy git and drawn the flyer just over the bridge and right.  Good Angler , good Peg, Ben next to him.  This will be a hard section to score points in today and as me and Critch are the only two Orphans turning out today; our team was already nowhere in the points table. So could it be worse..............

Don't know how Kev managed to get away with pegging this in the dark, but the 6 piles of crap in my peg looked to have not been disturbed.  Lucky man to get away with not getting on his hands or boots.  

The first 10 minutes was used to find a log that doubled as a shovel to remove all the carp from my swim.  Trying not vomit I managed to get it clear and start setting up.  

As luck would have it my guest Spanners was on the next peg. I did consider going along and asking for side bet of a pound, but as he took one of me a couple of weeks a go and Canals are his thing I bottled it.

Wished him the best of luck through the Fog, and shouted all in.  The sun started to break through and the day looked promising.  The canal was nice colour, and I was hopeful.  Little kufuful to my left on peg 1 as Kev Evans was trying to swing in a decent Perch into his lap.  The Perch bounced off him forward, and as he leaned forward to try and catch the fish and the bank gave way and he slid into the canal.  As he struggled to get back up the bank he grabbed his box and nearly pulled it in. After 5 minutes or so he was all set again and I was trying desperately not to laugh and show some compassion for him as he shivered.

The match was a steady affair for the first 2 hours as I plugged away pulling in tiddlers.  Still stick with it, might be lucky and get a big bonus fish. The float dipped and the elastic pulled away at last.  No joy it was a Pike with my 2 oz roach in his teeth.  The Pike was only maybe 2 lb and after a 30 seconds or so dropped my fish which I duly landed. Was that my luck for the day?  

A bite less hour and a half then followed. I had roughly 60 fish in the net, Spanners seemed to be struggling as well but still getting bites. News had traveled down that John D and Ben were going strong, as they should be. The clouds came and went, I scratched a few more including a "Tommy" Ruffe . Haven't seen one of them in years.  With 15 minutes to go decided to drop half a tin of hemp and some caster down the track for one final fling.  Dropped a rig over it with a dendro  on the hook.  It lifted and slid away and a bonus fish moved purposely to the left.  The Vespe 5 elastic stretched nicely away.

And so with clenched buttocks and holding my breath I eased it toward the net.  Lovely a Chubb of maybe a pound and a half.  I saw the the hook dead center of the thick white bottom lip. Then inexplicably it was gone. Cant blame anyone but myself but the line had not snapped, the hook had simply unraveled.  I tie my own so gutted, annoyed, frustrated, fit to blow a blood vessel you get the picture.  The all out came and I was glad to shout it, I felt like screaming anyhow.

The weigh began and I was on the boards.  A section below, well done to JD still got the skills despite his age!

B section was won by James Carty with an impressive 4 kilo + on bread.

 And as per last time we were on the Canal C section at Horton produced the better weights.  Brian Shutler taking the honours with another 4 kilo weight.  Again the better weights from the pegs either side of the bridge.

So back to a heaving pub for the results.  James Carty toasting his happy day.

Kev handed the winnings out to all to end a pretty reasonable day, to JC and Brian S grateful for the funds should pay for this weekends coming matches for both.

  My bag of nearly 70 fish. Way to many tiny fish to win my section on weight, so its mid section blues again.

For me though the delight of the day was seeing a rare sight these days little "Tommy" Ruffe.  Great to see em!

 Roll on the weekend.  Spanners has shown weakness on the Canal might just go a quid!!!!!!!!

Brownie points leave me all of a quiver

No match this weekend so took the opportunity to build up Brownie points; lots of DIY jobs for the wife.  Went to Reid's tackle yesterday to get some bait for the mid week match and just in case I could go today.  Picked up my normal bag of items happy to see the water going down at Withy and surprised to see a few in the tackle shop. Shouldn't really be surprised I suppose because its a quality shop with all needs covered.

Having amassed some brownie points with the wife I hovered and fidgeted around the house until she eventually said " oh for Christ sake go fishing your driving me mad". 

Before she could blink I was loaded and on my way. 10.10 am late start but at least I was on the way.  Where to though, fancied quiver tip fishing at Shearwater , but too late for that now. So plumped for the Pewsey Lake to see if the skimmers that were stocked on Friday were showing yet.

The sun shone and the Ipod playlist was full of happy tunes, The Cure "its Friday and I'm in Love". ELO "Mr Blue Sky" Tom Petty "Running down a Dream" Transvision Vamp "I want your love" and finally Katy Perry

 " I kissed and a girl and liked it" - just in case your reading Mrs Moody the last girl I kissed was you at Christmas and "I liked it - too" Dave your a lucky man.!  Beautiful day and a blue sky shone over a water logged Pewsey Vale.

By 11.00 hrs I was fishing.  I decided to leave the pole in the bag and get and fish the quiver tip. Fellow Pewsey member Robin Pearce was on the end peg so I plumped for the pipe swim.  Opposite end of the lake to where the fish were stocked on Friday.  Lets see if they have traveled far.

I know I can catch on the pole in matches (last week forgotten) on this lake, but thought I would experiment with different methods and bait etc. Set up the 11 foot New Era Milo bomb rod, running line with small cage ground bait feeder. My MAP feeder reel (ditched the braid) and popped on a very low stretch mono line - trying it on the advice of my tackle shop owner.  Mixed up some very sweet ground bait mixed in some choppy caster and a few yellow maggots.

The action was slow to start with but as the bait started to build the tip started to twitch for the first time.  The fish were small to start with,

but there was the occasional bonus Perch.  Bonus in deed, two of them were 1.5 lb + their bellies were as fat as a football and looked fit to burst. On rolling the first fish on its back it leaked a couple of eggs.  Keith the bailiff was behind me and he said it looked as if it would spawn soon.  I think it is too early , but with both fish I put them straight back as opposed to netting them just in case.

 A change from yellow maggot to worm brought more quality 12 oz Perch; but no skimmers yet.  I was impressed with the low stretch line.  It was as good as braid I thought showing up every little tap.  I may never go back to braid when feeder fishing.

 Robin on the End peg came along for a chat as did Dave Reynolds to join Keith high on the bank behind me.  The conversation led to matches and fishing with pinkie etc.  To prove the point that pinkie was a given on this lake; I set up a five meter whip, ball of bait and handful of pinkie.  Long rig to hand and within seconds small fish were coming to hand. Had to stop as the tip went around again and another quality Perch graced the net.

Robin went back to his peg adjusted his set up went for it with plenty of bait, and then a shout as the first of the New  skimmers graced his net.

So they have traveled right to this end of the lake already good news hope they spread evenly and I can get a few.

 After recording the fish on film for the website, I went back to my peg and upped the ground bait.  Lets see if I can bag me one of the new fish. After a quite spell and a thought that I might have frightened them of the tip banged sharply and another small fish came to hand.  

Si Burden (our President) arrived to fish the small pond, as he stood behind me the tip pulled confidently again and it was better fish.  I confidently said it was a quality Perch as the sharp head dogging taps indicated it was.  Si said I should go to specsavers, he could see it and it was one of the new skimmers.  Brilliant they were on the ground bait.

  A few more little un's and one more like above and I decided to call it a day.  Just gone three o'clock. Lovely 4 hours, could have caught way more on the "Waggler" or Pole I am sure, but it was good to experiment and practice a different method.  The bait mix had taken a while but proved to work well.  Who needs pinkie squat and hemp.  The new skimmers are a shot in the arm for the Lake, it was great to catch various sizes instead of just tiddlers.

As I packed away even the Carp were beginning to roll and flip on the surface.  I reckon I had around 6 lb in the net, plus the two big Perch ( not netted eggs leaking) which would combined be around three pounds. So close to nine pound in 4 hours lovely.

So happy man to be catching again.  Look forward to my midweek match and then back on the Canal Championship hunt next weekends.  Does life get better.....?

Big smile on my face as I drive home in the dry sunshine, Van Halen, Cher, Bob Marley and Snoop Dog blaring.  A roast dinner waiting for me, a great day - for a change. Sorry if you tuned in hoping for a disaster!

Pewsey New Year. All the gear and no bloody idea!!!!

The rain has stopped!Yes stopped.  So it was with some enthusiasm that I headed for a New Year re-union with the lads for the first match of the year on the Lake. The van warmed through and I could see the icy roads sparkling in the early morning light. The I Pod belted out Foreigners' "Your as cold as Ice" which was very apt I thought.

It reminded of a comment from Dave Self, as he recalled the following.  We used to come down off Everleigh Hill, if the van slid on the ice at the bottom we knew it was a "Punch" day. If it didn't it would be ground bait!  So as I came down the hill using the engine brake on the van and there was a little slide at the bottom, I was glad to have remembered my bread.

We gathered and shook hands exchanged Christmas woes and compared various injuries and illnesses.  Numbers were low as Si Irwin was running a Open on the Wilcot straight.  Many had opted for that match.  Local rivers and Lakes were flooded so it was somewhere to go.  The hardy and the point grabbers still in with a chance of the Lake Championship on points, were with us.  I was 4 points behind Spanners at the start and had foolishly been boasting on Facebook I was gonna take a quid of him. Didn't feel confident now.

Jim decided to do two sections of Five. With a gap in between so 2 to 6 and 10 to 14.  Spanners drew 6 and an end peg, so no change there then.  Me peg 3 one I had not drawn before or fished.  Recently the strong winds had a dumped a tree in the swim, which I was assured had been successfully retrieved.  The level in the lake had been well up but was getting back to normal.  Only difference was it was thickly coloured.  Not a day for punch. Punch had done well for me in the last Lake match but it was crystal clear.

The day was underway, I had spent a lot of time plumbing around and had a mental picture of the swim.  Shallower to the left sloping to the right and away from me.  No ledge the far side just straight down.  First mistake was changing a tried and trusted ground bait mix.  Normally 50 / 50 Sensas Roach and Sensas Magic, will a sprinkling of sensas black dye powder.  Well sieved.  Went for a more fish meal mix.  Silly really shouldn't experiment in a match.

First drop in and the 8 elastic roared away and bottomed out, and the rig came back with a slightly bent Tubertine 808 with a scale over the point.  Must have dropped the bait right on a Carp.

Second mistake of the day, not putting the mirror scale in my silvers net. The Match was Dire, bloody dire.  There is nothing worse than sitting there watching blokes next to you pull out fish and you cannot get a sniff. Jim on the next peg had not bothered with his kit over Christmas, only had old maggots and month old worm, yet was pulling out some reasonable size Perch. Steve Hiscock was flinging the waggler and catching tiddlers. Spanners was lying through his teeth saying he had nothing maybe 11 tiny fish.  Odd when you use the landing net for tiny fish!!

Me I had all the gear and no bloody idea.  I had meticulously prepared riddled my bait and my peg looked like an artillery station everything to hand and spick and span.  I must have really looked the dogs bollocks.  My admin was perfect. Tiny hooks light lines perfectly balanced rigs , everything but fish!!

In short I worked my balls off to try and catch but there was nothing there. Jim kept swinging in the Perch. Gary to my left on 2, roared delight when he had bite after three hours.  It was clear with an hour and a half to go Spanners was stretching away and Jim was not far behind.  So I tried the tip in the hope of a Chubb or Carp. Nothing, but a thumb sized Crayfish.  Sorry god didn't mean to stand on it I slipped.

Back on the pole and shipping back in the top 6 sections came free and started to float away.  Trying to get it back I knocked my bait in and got cramp in the back of my thigh and ass (god getting his own back for the crayfish).

 What a Day I am having I shouted as all decorum was lost.  Frustration was washing over me and I had lost it.  I asked Jim to ban me for trying to fish with a floating pole.  At least then I could say I was in with a chance but a conspiracy amongst Pewsey members had denied me my chance to win the match.  He denied my request.

 Looking around for a bough of a tree that might actually take the weight of me if I was to hang myself, I sat there miserably dragging out 5 gram fish realising the I have probably blown my chance at the Lake Championship.  With only two matches left and Spanners looking good today its not good.

Match over I weighed in 25 fish for 1 lb 1 oz.

 Through gritted teeth I parted with a shiny pound to the boy.  The attempt to psych him out had failed miserably.

  To be honest I was surprised to have what I did, in my heart it had felt like a blank, but 6 points.  I was even more surprised to have pipped Steve Hiscock, who seemed to have been catching all day.  JB had a nice weight with all his worm caught Perch 7 points. Gary to my left had struggled with 4 fish for 2 and half ounces.  Spanners 8 Points,120 tiny fish to pip Jim for the section.  I was hoping Jim might take him, as it was he has stretched a further 2 point to 6 ahead. Gonna be difficult to get that back over two matches need a miracle.

 Will T had taken the other section with his normal Carp or bust approach. First cast one bite one fish 12 lb 2oz.  Si and Chris duked it out and were separated by 1 ounce.

 So Will wins it with Ian second and JB third.  I am not in the photos, I am just of pic crying like a girl.

WT with his Carp.  You might recognize it I caught it at the end of September same swim exactly the same weight 12 lb 2 oz.  Hoping for better not gonna give in.

See you soon a hopeful angler...........

Christmas Jingle Bells to New Year Shingles Hell

Wednesday last (new years day) saw me feeling distinctly under the weather.  A little better on Thursday, but I still didn't feel right.  By midnight on the Thursday I was in fair discomfort and by Friday morning the severe rash confirmed my Shingles was back!!!! Scalp, Torso and Thigh, and scratching like a flea ridden dog.  Trip to the docs and a course of antibiotics. 7 to 10 days of discomfort ahead.

Paynes Bridge looking back toward Crab Apple and the Wharf

So I was sort of glad there were no real matches and no Pewsey Championship matches at the weekend. With the horrendous weather predicted I looked gloomily on the weekend ahead.  Feeling marginally better this morning and the rash(s) beginning to scab up, I realised the contagious part was over and perhaps I could go fishing after all.

Quick check of the BBC weather app on the phone showed a clear but cold morning with heavy rain from lunchtime onward. Didn't want to take the match gear, check on the bait situation, and decided to have another Roving Piking session.

After a wet day Saturday and a freezing clear night the roads were sheer black ice so I decided not to turn left after Tidworth and go over Everleigh way. It would definitely be Icy up there. So onward to Burbage and then down through little Salisbury and Milton Lillbourne. As I rounded the bend near the Bruce Arms, there was a Police Warning sign "Flood".  Not unusual considering is been raining harder than when Noah was around.

Ah! a little different this one. Long (100 mtrs+) and very deep looking.  Couple of cars at the far end looking distinctly nervous about attempting the pass.  One indeed was turning around.  Bugger cant be turning around myself, need to grow a pair and forge forward.  So with the water up over the wheels, the fan belt slipping like an eel and water coming in the foot wells of the Flyer. I ploughed on.

Water sprayed thickly over the windscreen as the bow wave billowed before me.  I was through, and whilst the flyer clearly didn't like the experience the revs stayed up and we motored on past Milk house water into Pewsey center. Bit of a dodgy moment at the first roundabout as the clearly wet brakes struggled to work; but I was in Pewsey.

So now where to go?  All the way there I had it in my mind to do Wilcot again, see if I could get the biggie I had seen on New Years Eve. Some how though I found myself at the Wharf.  Sub consciously I had wanted to Pike the Crab Apple stretch.  My brain was telling me the good weights seen at James Cartys end of year bash must mean Pike.  Plenty of food fish must mean Pike surely.

However, looking at the canal now my gut said no.  It was really thickly coloured and had about 10 inches to a foot of water on after the heavy rain.  Nevertheless I didn't have long before the rain so couldn't really waste time driving around foe something better. Should I go left to the bay and the flying pegs at the cables end, Gut said yes.  Brain said go right and up to the Crab apple.

I walked for around 20 minutes, past stacks of topping Roach and rolling skimmers, along very muddy banks and eventually to the other side of Pains Bridge.  I feel a bit guilty Pewsey has some great fishing and I feel I am robbing them paying so little for membership its a steal.

http://www.pewseyfishingclub.co.uk/  check out the fees and contacts.

 I started my way back , spinning plugging and dead baiting.  The morning wasn't too bad after all, walkers and mountain bikers struggled through the mud. The Coal Barge was plying their trade selling wood, diesel and Coal etc.  The Crows down in the fields behind cawed and cackled, and the sound of Church bells calling all to Sunday sermon. The local football team, the referee and supporting cheers drifted on the wind as the the team coached bellowed to "get the ball wide, right go on now skin him"

It was all very pleasant except there was no bites. I did try a variety of dead baits from Roach, crucian carp, smelt and Sardine through to Lamprey.  But nothing the same on the spinning gear , shallow and deep diving plugs as well as traditional and newer, wackier spinners and plugs but no joy.

Funny when your not catching how you mind drifts to negative things.  Suddenly the Shingles seemed painful, in fact very painful indeed.  Thoughts of home, a warm fire, Roast dinner and some soothing cream for the rash was enough to have me heading back toward the wharf.  You know what its like though, just one more cast. I suppose if I had scratched that other itch to catch a fish, and actually caught something I would have been on my way home already.

Back in the Wharf Pike Bobbin bottom right of Photo

So it was 12.30 and the rain was persistently coming down, as I stood under the bridge at the Wharf, willing the float to dip of the edge of the Narrow Boat Swedish Dreams moored in the Wharf.  But it didn't, I paced the dreary dark underside of the bridge, shingles giving me hell, but ultimately it was a frustrating blank today.

Should have listened to "gut" instinct today, watercraft knowledge told me it wasn't on today.  Still perhaps having had bad luck today, it will be good luck in the continuing Pewsey Championship next weekend.  See you there.