Pewsey Canal kicks off

Belting along in the flyer, Roger Daltrey screaming Baba O'Reilly in my ear. Trying to windmill my air guitar like Pete Townshend, but there isn't a great deal of room in the van cab. So I flip to beating the steering wheel like Keith Moon on a bad day.

Tea and Toast sitting heavy as I had ate in hurry to get to the early draw.  Good idea having the early draws, it gets you fishing before the boats and people get going.  That we you can getting a few fish in the net early doors always good on the canal. Early finish too, keeps the wives club happy. Everyone is a winner.

Before we start, I have had a message from my stalker Christine Moody.  Her hubby the ever miserable Dave Moody tells me Christine is going to stop following the blog unless I buck up and produce better results.  No pressure then.

Draw Bag.  That's what we should call Spanners, he must have sold his soul to the Devil.  Leo had put the turning bay in for the first time in years. Who should draw the end peg (again) and the bay but yours truly. He's the handsome soul below grinning ear to ear below.

Steve Dean (foreground) had the other half of the Bay and I was 30 yards away.  Still I was glad to be in the high numbers.  I hope the new Championship (Canal match 1) is a sign of good or better draws to come.  Now lets catch some fish.

Starting with a plan.  Bread line 3 mtr whip close in pinkie across and squat against the boat. Leo shouts the all in and i swing out the punch on the whip.  As the bread hits bottom the float slides away and a 2 oz roach swings toward me. Quick unhook and back in. Nothing for 5 minutes. Change to pinkie again the float slides away and a lovely "Tommy Ruffe" graces my hand.  In fact I going make a claim for the club canal record me thinks.

Another ten bite less minutes, and I was just thinking it was slow.  Back on the punch and a twitch, dip and slide away. Oops this is better.  Trouble is on a flick tip you just gotta hang on! So for a couple of minutes I did as the hybrid Bream Roach ripped up my inside line. Eventually I slipped the net under it and was glad to see it drop in the keep net.

Boat comes through so with the inside line trashed I have to o across on the squat.  The canal is shallow on the boat section so the silt is really taking awhile to settle.  The rain is really hammering it down and there hasn't been a bite for over an hour. People are starting to walk the bank to keep warm and to see whats being caught.  Rumour has the low pegs are struggling.  Now if quality Canal anglers like Leo, Si Burden, Kev Chubb, Danny , Chris and Si Irwin are struggling then it must be bad.  I don't get it along the entire stretch not one person is catching.  Water temperature is dropping as the cold rain pounds in. Fish are rolling and topping everywhere but not biting.  I venture the theory that they might be starting to spawn.

Steve Dean, agrees with my theory and suggests that my hybrid must be the only gay fish in the canal, as at least it was feeding.  Si Irwin has had enough and in a break in the rain packs up and leaves early as does Chas Short .  Steve Dean still hasn't had a bite and Spanners has had just a TINY Perch.

The all out is called and not a moment too soon. Spanners weighs in his 1 oz Perch. Steve DNW.  Me well, my Ruffe was exactly an ounce and I will be applying for the record! A 2 oz roach is added to my 13 oz Hybrid for exactly a pound. Tales of woe and incredible sights like Kev Chubb blanking meets us we trudge back, in another torrential downpour.

So to the scores on the doors.

So I've won what a lovely feeling to win a canal match. Its not the money it is the 15 points genuinely it is, oh and the fact that Christine Moody will still read my blog. Lol.

So to the pictures.  Well done to Chris Rushton he was more pleased with his pound bet win with Spanners than taking joint third with Danny Jones.

Now for some brilliant news the ever improving Martin Aris takes second place and was well chuffed with his super pools and second place brown envelope.

Chris Glover picks up section by default in his first Pewsey match, welcome and well done.  Leo and Brian lose out by half an ounce to Si Burden who takes his section by default.

So to the winners. Not sure what prize Danny is giving to Martin but he seems pleased!!

Off to Andover next week for a challenge match against them on Foxcotte Lake. Followed by an open on the canal for Monday (Bank Holiday) - see you there.  Nice feeling to be top of the league I will cherish it.

Irwins Open - Selwood damp squib

You can't blame the boy but Si Irwin (below) had arranged a friendly open match on Selwood at Withy Farm. It was designed to introduce some of the Pewsey lads to commercial fishing as most of the Pewsey matches are on natural water.

Unfortunately it was the bank holiday Monday and over the previous two weekends and the holiday week leading up to the bank holiday the venue had been hammered.  Top this with a prolonged spring like spell and the fish were only interested in getting ready to spawn.  The skimmers were covered in tube and the Carp were just circulating around in groups on the surface.

I would love to tell you it was great; but wasn't in fact I recorded my lowest ever weight on Selwood.  The banter was fantastic and there were unusual occurrences like Pete losing his top kit to a Carp.  Chris Rushton playing a Carp for 45 minutes before finally losing out.  Probably the most unusual occurrence of all Mike Marsden on a Commercial!!!! see below:

Some things never change Spanners had drawn the flier, with PG next to him and Daz "dazzler" Mayers the other side.  So you just know where the money was going.

As time approached there were a couple of people including Mr Rushton who had started to catch. Si offered the 14 strong contingent an extra 30 minutes as it had been so dire. I abstained as for once I was in front of Bri Shutler. The majority said yes and during the new last 30 minutes Bri sacked up and overtook me!

The only thing I caught was the sun red as a beetroot.

So some photo's to finish.

Engineer Cadet afloat Pete White

Captain Pug wash takes on Masterbates to hunt for the top kit being dragged around by the Carp.

Third place + Silvers to Paul Giddings of peg 16

Second place to Dazzler Mayers (venue expert)

Scores on the doors

Finally you know who takes it well done Spanners winner again.

Army Artillery - Fire and Forget

Short blog today.  Invited along to join the Artillery fishing club at Witherington Farm.  We were fishing the Snake , but sadly only 5 had turned up; and that included me!!

We fished along the top bank.  To spice it up Gav put six pegs in and this meant, there was a gap. Brian Shutler benefited from the extra space....

Me I was in the middle of the stretch.  From the start I struggled to fish the full 16 mtrs, and actually there was no shelf and no benefit fishing at  4 feet. Did try up in the water and managed to bag three Carp and lose a double figure carp hooked in the tail.

For most of the day a picked of skimmers and roach , all of which were like sand paper to touch and covered in barnacles.

Looking down the bank it was clear that I was falling behind have way through the match so I decided just to enjoy it as the two end pegs Bri, and Danny by the bridge were both bagging.

The all out came and I was last of the five.  If there was a silver fish pool I would have taken it.  But no joy,
6 Carp for 16.8 lb, and 19.8 lb silvers.

 Danny had been fishing paste and meat down the edge with success so much so that he decided to put the  few silvers he had net as he only had two nets.

So coming back down the line Danny won with 72, Bri second with 62.6, Docs next with 59 lb then Gav with 49.7 lb. Then me with 36 lb. Nowhere near enough Carp to compete.

Never mind Easter Monday to come and a match on Selwood again at Withy , this time with the Pewsey Boys.

Army Todber in the Spring

5AM saw me walking the dogs in the light of a Hunters Moon, the dawn chorus calling the morning sun forward into the new day. The Partridge were scattered by the dogs as they scrunched their way through the frosty grass.  Back home for a cup of tea and a custard cream, let the chickens out and feed them; load the Flyer and head of for a proper mans breakfast at Skevys Cafe in Shaftesbury.

6.10 and over beacon hill and westward. The moon was winking a final goodnight to its polar opposite the sun which was rising in the east in my rear view mirror.

Good turn out today 40+, Todber is a popular venue and rightly so.  It hails the start of our run of commercial venues and reasonable bags of fish, instead of scratching with squat and thin lines, we can use tow ropes and hollo elastic and hooks bigger than a 20.

 The breakfast beat me I couldn't manage it and that set the tone for the day really. Whilst I did draw White posts for the first time, I drew the bottom lake that was as good as it got.  Whilst I was busy for the almost all of the 6 hours match ( did have a quite hour in the middle). My tactics of fishing banded four mill pellet 10 inches deep of the lily pad at 16 mtrs. Was not entirely successful.  I did catch but only pasty size fish, skimmers and Rudd and Roach.  Sprinkling in the micro had the fish swirling but no decent fish.  Couple of big-uns were hooked but they ploughed straight into the lilies and the red 11 hollo elastic was not man enough.

A strong cross wind was making fishing long difficult so I came over my 6 mtr track swim. Two more roach 1 6 oz Tench meant and no carp for 30 minutes forced me to re think.  Ivan to my left had been fishing down the edge for an hour.  I thought he had gone to the edge too early, but it was paying dividends and he was getting one a chuck.

I decided to try my edge swims I had been feeding i started catching straight away with a piece of worm, but it was a 2 lb Perch.  More Roach followed so I swapped from worm to 4 mill Bacon grill. Then I started to catch slightly bigger. Ivan was probably 20 fish in front of me and had me beat.  I did enjoy seeing him foul hook an eel in the tail on sweetcorn! The eel was a good 4 lb and he struggled manfully to get the thing in the net for 5 minutes before it broke him and trashed his rig.  I decided to up the feed rate to catch him , but he said it would kill it and it did - know it all.

The weigh in begins and we have had a mixed day

My section first A section White posts.  I have had a lovely days fishing but nearly 29 kilo or 63.8 lb has me 8th in a 15 man section so midsectionblues.

B section next and down to Park lake

Mick Craddock supreme here. With Pewsey and Artillery angler Danny Jones third behind Kev East.

Finally, C section

My mate John Dewberry just scrapes it against fellow Pewsey and Artillery angler Bri Shutler. Dave Hydes bringing a close 3 rd.

So my weight was creditable weight over all in the match, but the best weights came from my section.  Top three 

Chris Perry 54.38 kilo

Ivan Oakey 48.96 kilo

Mike Poolman 46.5 kilo.

Well done to them. Saturday at Withy for an Artillery invitational

Pewsey Lake Championship round 1 Marathon Day

As I sit to type this I reflect on a Marathon day in more ways than one.  Just like the London Marathon, we had a variety of talent on show and just like the London race all ages. Not going to say who was our oldest runner but it was a tightly fought contest between, Jimmy, Roly and a couple of others.  Our youngest newest member on the match scene is none other than 10 year old Sophie Spanswick daughter of last years Club Champion Ian.

As I said long day up at four to nurse one of my dogs who is poorly. So by the time I got on the road the sun was already climbing into a bright blue sky; also in that sky was a wondrous aerial display from a Red Kite which in between its graceful swoops, was being mobbed by crows and ravens. Equally wondrous was the volume and variety of ground-based wildlife.  Roe deer, Muntjac, Pheasant Partridge , Hare, and Rabbit.  Fisherman are lucky to witness this dawn display.

As I am running this years Lake series a few rule changes on timings etc meant an earlier draw and a variety of prizes including a Golden peg prize.  Almost all seemed pleased with the new set up although there was a few gripes about the earlier start. We had a full house and in fact had to turn a few late bookers away. Shame but thats it.

Young Sophie drew the Golden Peg which was one of the fliers - 15. She's obviously got her old mans skill of drawing of pat already.  Once back in the bag I asked her to draw her peg for the day.  She looked at her dad and he said draw peg 12.  So she did!! Definitely a Daddies girl. Everyone then got stuck into the draw bag and there were various moans and sharp intakes of breath at what was drawn whilst I filled out the board. Last but one to draw I picked out the golden peg 15. See Above Pic.

On the peg next to me was the mighty Gary Perryman. Who ten minutes in had landed his bunch of worms on the nose of a 11 pound Carp. I knew it was big but Gary's huge hands made it look small. He then sat set out his stall for a net full of Carp. Below

  

Being on the end and at the windward end of the Lake I was in a dilemma. I had not expected to draw well and my plan I had in my head was now blown.

I really should go for the Carp I was already at least double figures behind and only ten minutes had passed.  The reeds across the lake were full of Carp crashing around and generally having a ball.

Initial attempts to get close with the Pellet waggler were unsuccessful as I was constantly being pulled away by a strong north easterly crosswind. So I quick change to the method and meat on the hook produced a couple of liners, but nothing concrete.  Gary and Jim continued to lob there huge ground bait feeders with worm on the hook.  Gary has just had another, he was only reeling in and he didn't even know he had it on. Typical.  To follow that JB has just had a decent lump too.

Sophie was going well with her dad sat behind her.  She didn't need his coaching tips she was bagging the small stuff and going great guns.  Brian Shutler was starting to walk the bank.  He had hooked a common Carp around 6 lb before the match had even started, and was now being teased that he should go back to using a bare hook and plumbing up he might catch another.

Me, well every bit of surface detritus on the lake was gathering in front of me and I was getting scummed out barely able to present a bait.

It was impossible trying to catch silvers , and I needed weight.  So I stuck at the Carp.  The method wasn't working, so I switched to copy Gary and Jim, by using a groundbait feeder.  I had no worms with me (school boy error) so a big bunch of maggots was the bait of choice.  It did result in two carp about a pound and 3 quarters each maybe two pound.  But whilst the bulrushes shook and the Carp crashed on the surface all around, I have a feeling their minds were on spawning not feeding.

The six hours were soon up. I was sad to here Kirsty had gone home early with stomach pains, even more concerned to hear on getting home she had collapsed and been taken to hospital! Get well soon Kirsty.

Various stories of woe were already been aired, the normal the ones that got away to the didn't get a bite all day mate. But in short the Marathon Day was drawing to a close.  The scores were totted up and the Prizes given.  A special well done to Sophie.  Chris Rushton had gone a quid with her in the absence of her dad.  He will do anything to get a pound.  Shame on him lol. Shes a 10 year old girl, but when you look at the sheet you will see she ran him close. In fact she did him on Silvers and it was only a Carp that gave him two ounces more  - so close unlucky Sophie.

Sophie takes her prize(From Vice Chair Jim Broomham) for best Junior on the day whilst her dad looks on proudly.

Neil Pegrum had taken the other section with a nice bag of silvers including a daddy Chubb, plus two Carp including a lovely mahogany common.

Simon Burden was second in this section with a Carp and and good bag of silvers on peg 1.

So Neil (left) wins, Gary(at the back) second, Jim third and Brian Shutler takes the silvers pool, matching my 6 lb 13 oz.

Scores on the doors.

Pewsey Vs Devizes Bait Tech Angling Times

So it was here the first real match of the new season.  The Angling Times Bait Tech Club man competition. We have been practising on the Seend Park stretch and as you have seen in previous blogs , I as Captain had a dilemma. Nine worthy anglers only 8 places.  I looked through different combinations before settling on the 8. Bugger I'm dropped, I looked again to see if there was a valid reason why I should be in and someone else dropped and to be honest I couldn't find one, it really was a flip of the coin stuff.

We gathered in Devizes for the draw and the breaky, and before we new it we were ready to go.  Weird feeling doing the organising and then when its off your not involved.

Some good looking matches, with Brian meeting us on the bank.  We set off.  I called the all in and set the countdown on my phone before starting my bank running duties.

Initially the lads were a little nervy, the plan which had worked well in practice , feed far side then fish inside line for 45 minutes, get a pound or two in the net before going for the skimmers. 30 minutes in we were getting twitchy but then the fish started to come.

It was turning out to be a proper match flowing two and fro them up in most of the pairings then we came back.  Then it settled into a rhythm.

Adam Carter was flying in his match with Kev and Looking good (below)

Rumour was that Si Burden was catching well on end peg 16.  Couldn't get much out of him myself he was cagey and concentrating hard.  So he was up in his match against 15. Other end peg Paul Passmore was up against Si Irwin in our side. Si was struggling the strong wind had snapped his pole and he had to telescopic it and try and carry on.  Chris was up in his Match. Ian down in his.  Danny Jones was wining his.

The legend who is James Carty (below)was mechanically bagging and doing his normal I've got bugger all routine

Leo our man in this battle was sticking rigidly to the plan and picking up a few it was a tight one this.  As I sat behind Leo he switched to choppy the float dipped and he hit into a nice fish. Below.

Give him his due, his back was giving him grief but he was putting in a good show. James looked crestfallen when Leo unhooked and dropped into the net

But James like the machine he is kept fish going into the net and I had to say to Leo it was tight but he was down in his match and needed another a couple more skimmers to catch and pass James.  More bad news Chris who was in front had just watched his opponent catch two good skimmers which now had put him behind.  Ian was now in front, and Kev had caught and overtook Adam.  The boats were driving us all mad and I wasn't even fishing, bloody holiday makers.

As the boats cris crossed in front of Leo his swim was finished.  The clock seemed to be counting down quickly so I final run down the bank saw Ian back in it with a Perch.  This was going to be tight.  As I stood next to Devizes Captain Adam and called the all out for the end; we differed in our views. He thought we had won and I thought it was a tie.

The weigh in began and the Devizes lads were joking nervously. In truth we all knew it was close. As we came down the bank it flowed too and fro , but in the end it was as I had called it 4 wins each and so down to overall team weight.  Which ever way you look at it, it was close but the Division One Team had pipped us on weight, by a good 4 pound or 8oz an Angler. What a gutter................close but no Cigar and bragging rights to the worthy winners.  

A few nervous laughs from Devizes lads when they realised how close we had pushed em; and I was sulking analysing were I had gone wrong, could I have given better or more info on the bank?  Could we have done better as a team I don't think so we had not disgraced ourselves at all.  Well done to Devizes and we wish them best of luck for going all the way to the final.