Pewsey Canal + Interclub match against Kintbury

An extra hour in bed this morning, but made the most of an early start to get to Ladies bridge and get a parking spot.  Bit of AC / DC "dirty deeds done dirt cheap"to rock me to the venue, certainly wakes you up when the I pod seems to want to shuffle through the heavy stuff.  Not that I am complaining.  Bit of Motorheads Ace of Spades and Iron Maidens "the Trooper"  I was deaf but happy on arrival. Apart from a close call last minute.  Pheasant took off and I thought it was coming through windscreen but instead it ripped of the passenger wing mirror - more bloody expense its ever ending.

Still very mild but the colour is beginning to drop out of the canal. Punch will soon come into its own I am sure.  After a good weekend on the river last week and a good mid week result from the canal I hoped for the form to continue.  Brian Shutler is six points ahead of me now; and its clear he has sussed the lake so its the canal where I need him to have a bad match and me a good one.  I was leafed out last year on this match hope this year is more successful.  I suspect the normal lucky ones will be in the bay.  Its funny how Brian, Steve Dean, Chris Rushton and Paul Giddings seem to be there or there abouts every time.

Leo does the draw but cant stay as he is being measured up for a suit for his daughters wedding.  It was this week or miss next weeks winter league, and that wasn't going to happen.  We all want section 1. Pegs 1 to 7 in the bay, so a mad scramble for the draw hat sees, Simon Burden and I left with the last two me peg 11 and Si peg 13 both down the narrows. So we trudge toward our pegs, those with 1 to 7 with big smiles on their face. Brian and Steve not in the bay!!!

I had drawn exactly the same peg as I did in the last match at Ladies bridge.  Nice colour but the water was freezing.

The match starts. I cup in the choppy and caster and within a minute the first boat comes through and churns up the baited area.  What a waste. Re-bait and start on the whip with punch .  

Ten fruitless minutes sees me change to a pinkie and a further waste of time. Over the choppy and another 20 bite less minutes.  Chris is catching across.  Last time I fished next to Chris he did the same.  This time I learnt from it ditched the track kit and went across.  

Fifty five minutes saw the first bite and its yes you have guessed it a Pike around 10 oz.  The run of Pike continues.  Three squat fish for around an ounce and then it goes solid.  Pike number 2 a more impressive 3 lb that severs the line at the net.  

Ping some maggot and caster across and set up and plumb another kit for across.. Job done I lower in a single caster and its away another Pike heads right to the bay and the 3 elastic pulls hard, as I bully it back trying to snap off, I suddenly get a view of a hybrid!! Its not a pike!  

Gingerly I coax it back and slip the net under it.  At last a bonus fish in a club match.  It goes around a 1.5 lb.  

The day gets harder and colder as autumnal cold fingers begin to tighten all around us.  The water is colder the wind is whipping up the narrows and its a struggle to fish to the far shelf. An hour without a bite prompts me to scale down to a 24 and start grinding out the small stuff.  But at least I am catching.

Simon and Marc to my left have had a 3 lb Tench and big hybrid and those in the bay are catching big we hear.  The first bloke in my section (one off the bay) has had two big hybrids so it looks like I am under the cosh.

I manage to grind out about a 1 lb of bits to go with my hybrid.  Danny is catching but Chris has stopped some time a go.  I think I may have the two either side of me beat; but the section has gone to Simon surely with that Tench.

So to the weigh in

My pound and half Hybrid is joined by 1 and a half of bits for 2 lb 15 oz and 8 drams. Sure enough Si and Marc with their respective big fish do me, but they have been pipped by Kintbury's Steve Young his two big Hybrids give him 5 lb on the nose. So its mid section blues.  

The only consolation is I have picked up a few points on Brian who has struggled a bit by his excellent standards.  As expected you had to be in the bay to win it.

Chris weighs in his flying peg in the bay

Robin shows of one of his Bronze Bream that gave him double figures

The queue backs up on the bank as we trudge to the End Pegs. 

 Paul Giddings has won it with 14 lb dead, and well done to Robin for second place.  Chris Rushton scrapes third.

Scores on the doors

Back to the van for the pay out and announcement of whose won the Team match.  Kintburys 6 weights will be against our best 6.

Kintbury total = 10 lb 13 oz

Pewsey Total = 41 lb 6.oz and 8 drams.  Pewsey are the winners.  Pewsey take top three slots and one section, whilst Kintbury have the consolation of two section wins.

Round four of the Winter League next week at Radcot.

Wessex Winter League round 3 . Not bad you old Trout

So its here another Winter League Sunday morning.  Up at Sparrows fart to face the weird juxtaposition a dark winters morn yet the warmth of an August night.  Don't get me wrong, I am grateful for the continuing warm weather it is much more pleasant than the blue fingered fish-less days of winter.  But everything has its place and to be honest I wish for a few hard frosts; and a bloody good storm to put the river in perfect winter trim. Nothing like catching Dace and Roach (on a running line) on a clean green river, fining down. Some of the lads seem overly pleased to be there!

In the reverse of the E L O song the morning sun struggles but Mr Blue Sky's hand is creeping over the shoulder of Mr Night and pushes its way into our lives.  I enjoy driving early in the day, the roads seem free of vehicles even though they are not.  The wildlife skulk gingerly back into the shadows of the dark places which are safe from the parasitic human race.  This particular parasite races headlong toward the meeting place.  With hope in his heart that he will again get close to that nature and today have the honour of holding again, the red finned silver prize of a two pound Roach.

Some of the guys had decided not to engage in the normal wacky races from our meeting point and drive straight to the draw venue.  Must admit I was looking forward to getting there. To see for myself the legendary Barmaid.  Apparently some of her asset's need their own postcode!  Rocking music from the 1970s Ballroom blitz (Sweet), My friend Stan (Slade) and most appropriate Wings and "Band on the run" accompany me across the M4 as I balance drumming the steering wheel and drinking a vanilla Latte from Costa.

Breakfast was missed for a change as I had some pretty bad stomach cramps. Raised a smile with the barmaid, ordering my drink.  Didn't notice my flies were undone. Explained she was safe and said "the cage is open, but the beast is asleep".  The response was crushing, she said  " more like a dead bird will never fall out of its nest"!!

On to the draw and 3 golden pegs today two and 200 and one at 89.  I draw first for the lads and its peg four. mid section.  Team 2 draw peg 1 and Team 3 peg.  Its a long hike to my peg and it comes home to me just how fat I have become. Nearing the peg I have to take a breather its so warm and I have way to many layers on.  Si Burden noticing my red face, says " don't worry Gazza its a big field plenty of room for the Air Ambulance to land"!

I get to my peg and I am pleased it looks a good one with plenty of features.  One problem to get to it I have to ferry my kit over a deep muddy cattle drink to get to a nice sand bar. After taking 45 minutes sinking losing waders , pulling muscles trying to get out and almost having a coronary, I get my kit across and start plumbing up.

Its not the swim that's been winning matches that is two pegs down below the wooden bridge.  But its a glorious spot where two rivers converge .  The only thing I could really do was fish the crease where the rivers met, it was the deepest spot at 5 feet.  After taking so long to get across the mud I was now rushing as the 11 o'clock start time was almost on me.  In fact the whistle went just as I finished plumbing up.  As per the team plan I cupped in 10 balls of caster laced ground bait, then lowered the rig in and it was away before it settled and in to the first of seven trout one after another. The first below being around 2 lb the biggest around 5.5 lb - didn't he lead me a merry dance. After slipping the first two back I then netted the rest as I was sure they would plague me all day.

So with 30 minutes gone I had two gudgeon and a load of game fish.  the flying peg below the bridge has already had two 1.5 lb skimmers and his elastic is stretching out again.  Head down as the roach start to come.  The wind changes its ever swirling direction to up stream so I pop the stick float out with a piece of bread flake to see if there is anything bigger around.  At last  - weeks I have been waiting for bonus fish and what a lovely fish. it slides away and the rod bends nicely into a near pound Roach.

Hopeful of more bread fish I persevere to no avail so go back on the bronze over the ground bait.  The day becomes a mechanical robotic exhibition of shipping the pole , swapping to the stick when wind suited and pulling the small stuff a few skimmers  started to come and then the inevitable Pike.

The pike destroyed my rig and after a change it wasn't the same.  3 Hours in, what to do.  Couple more balls of caster ground bait and a whole tin of hemp switches it on again and the roach respond well.  When ever I look downstream the guy the other side of the bridge seems to be into a fish.  Concentration goes a little as I wonder how the other lads are doing.  I am not winning the section but should I stick at it or get the waggler out and go for chubb - if they are there?  Remembering that we need 6 points an angler to stay in touch, I hope no one else in the section is catching and I am sitting in second - I hope.  So leave the waggler and keep going  - don't come off feeding fish.  The fish get smaller and smaller as the match ends.  I think I may have 6 and half pound is it enough?

  So to the weigh and my section first.  As I thought the ISIS fella had bagged with 15 lb + .  I had managed second. With a pleasing 8 lb 3 oz.

Si Irwin had 2 pound dead 3 points and Si burden a 3 lb 15 4 points

B section and the in form man Steve Trevett struggles for a change. Chris Glover P2 doing him by an ounce. Steve H struggling after being hounded by pike all day.

C Section.  Lee Knight P3 pips Kev the bread by  8 drams!! and Brian Shutler stuggles in a difficult windy , shallow peg.

D Section. Solid from Chris and Leo with Chas struggling a little on the day.

E Section. Solid again from P1 Paul Giddings the required 6 points. Steve Dean and Martin struggling in the wind with Martin breaking is 5 section.

F Section.  Super sub Graham Godwin Wins the section for P3, Danny suffers a broken 5 section in the wind as well; and spanners scratches a vital 4 points; but legs it before paying me another quid.

Team results.

Swindon ISIS A have a red letter day with Radcot on the tail.  P 1 manages third. Still well in it second overall I think 4 points behind Swindon ISIS A. Second in section - twice in a week; and  Section by default for me. Seventh in the match.

Ladies Bridge on the Canal next week for a club match against Kintbury.

PS it just shows you how close matches and fishing could be only ounces between 2, 3, 4 and 5th in the match. As for Pewsey, and in particular P1 missing out on an extra point by an ounce in B Section and half an ounce in C section. Could have been only 2 points behind

Army 2014/2015 begins...guess what its raining

So it begins another season with the Army lads and as always its raining, never fails to rain on these boys.  What a turn out 52 + 3 guests.  Brilliant turn out and credit to Kev East for the organisation.  For the first time in many years I didn't have to peg, so it was turn up breakfast and draw. Very nice.  Good conversation with my guest for the day the inimitable Ian Spanners Spanswick.

James Carty had been invited by Kev East, and John Yoda Dewberry had invited Ian Ross.  Its been a while since I've gone a pound with anyone, but a half hearted offer got the nod from Spanners. Pewsey vs Pewsey should be interesting.  In fact several Pewsey lads are on show today, Brian Shutler, Si Irwin and Chris Glover.  The down side of the big numbers was the tight pegging.  Big numbers (18 in a section) construction work at the Bridge Inn end and loads of boats at Horton meant we were cosy. Still no bitchin from me I know what its like to organise, you cant please them all.

Parked up and headed to my peg (B9) midsection blues me thinks. Past Brian Shutler on end peg B1 and Si Irwin on B 5.  Got to my peg to find my friend and excellent angler John Yoda Dewberry two to my left.  Gonna be tough to get good points today in this section of 18 and talented anglers.  

Spannners walked by, where you pegged mate? Devizes I think! He had a long walk on muddy paths to C section.  Good luck says I start shining the pound.  On my right, my friend Brian Parsons. Least if the fishing was bad we could chat.

My ability to draw bland featureless pegs in the middle of a section continues. So I wasn't hoping for much. set up two whips for close work , a track kit , 2 four foot kits and a far side ledge kit.

Sorted my bait and closed up all the bags and kit against the impending rain.

Wished John a good match, sat down and chopped the worm ready.  The match started and as always I started on the whip, with punch.  Two quick Roach and then nothing for 10 minutes.  So changed to bronze maggot over the choppy and ground bait line. Float dipped and three quick Perch getting smaller and smaller 

Looking left I see John flash the net out and land what looked like a monster hybrid.  Bugger that's torn it.  Head down and work it. Ignore others (hard when they are close) fish your own match.  A little pressure had been brought to bear as one or two comments about it being easy for me.  Apparently as I fish canals now I should win it .............I don't think so!  Lot of talent on show in all the sections today. Too many to name but they know who they are.  My target was a kilo (army matches are in kilos) as opposed to the pounds I have been doing in winter leagues and club matches.  Second target try and sneak into top 12 out of the 55.  Lofty targets on this bleak day.  

So I worked hard ground out the fish with a variety of tactics.  Ignoring the big fish (never get them anyhow) and going for quantity.  It is slow of course and I can hear that Si Irwin is one a chuck. The fish come and go and the monotony of squat fish is broken by a couple of boats.  Dropped in the backwash of one with a worm.  The spiralling float slides away and the elastic stretches to a reasonable (pound plus) Perch.  Its hooked above the eye with the worm behind its gill plate.  Needless to say my 0.5 hook length snaps and a new rig is needed.

The incessant rain accompanies us all to the end of the match and the all out is called.  Busy day lots of small stuff.  Si Irwn comes along and asks what I have; and my standard 5 ounce reply is given.  "Yeh right 5 ounces my arse".  "You've done well I hear".  "Yeh got a couple of pound".  Bull, that means 3 lb me thinks.

A quick peak at my net to make sure I have not disgraced myself, and I am relatively pleased , once again need that bonus fish, but its ok.

So back to the pub for the results.  A section first.

End pegs Adi Watts and Chris Glover do as expected. Other notable weights, Gaz Bolitho, James Carty and Daz Anderson.

My section next.  Brian Shutler struggled on the venue flyer by being double boated in the first 30 minutes and then one of the boats moored next to him, poor sod. Si Irwin has not stopped all day and has pipped me by 5 ounces. I in turn pip my mate Yoda by 13 ounces. My old Orphan team buddy Carl Amman  a creditable weight from the Devizes club man fishing on home water. I am pleased with my five and three quarter pound. Well done to Si on his near 6 lb. Go Pewsey.

  So to C Section.  Close one this. With Dave Griffiths winning the match with 3 kilo plus and  Nomad Eddie Edwards taking second ahead of Rocky. A  respectable 1.7 kilo (3 and 3 quarter lb) for my mate and guest Spanners. 

Double misery for Ian as JC in A section pips him as well by 2 oz or 50 grams. Never mind mate.

So a pick up for me, happy days.  Picked up Si's for him, spent that on the way home!

As for my targets. 

 My target was a kilo (army matches are in kilos) as opposed to the pounds I have been doing in winter leagues and club matches.  Second target try and sneak into top 12 out of the 55.

Surpassed the kilo mark and as for position:

1st. Dave Griffiths 3.040

2nd. Eddy Edwards 2.930

3rd. Adi Watts 2.750

4th. Si Irwin 2.690

5th. Gary Williams 2.520 

Happy Days, need to keep that going for the winter league at Lechlade this weekend.

One thing left to do.  He hands over the pound reluctantly , saying keep it warm I'll win it back on Sunday.

The curious incident at the Lake

I debated whether to put this on line today as I feared people would consider me as a potential cast member in the remake of  "one flew over the cuckoos nest".  However balancing that against the inevitable "that blokes a nutter" comments' I felt the incident worthy of recording.

After yesterdays slow match I thought I would give the lake another go for a few hours this afternoon.  All alone on the same peg 7. I had a couple of roach straight off, over the area that I baited in the match yesterday. Suddenly although not a warm day the air around me seemed to drop in temperature and send a hair raising chill up my spine.  

As my deceased mother use to say "somebody walked over your grave son".  

All noise of wildlife and birdsong had ceased and even the ripples on the lake stilled themselves leaving a glass type surface to the lake.  On the far side of the lake a light bluey mist coiled gently off the lake surface and mingled with the falling leaves. Which by the way were falling in almost slow motion.  

I have had moments like this before (not just when I am fishing) when every detail of the world around me is visible in almost microscopic format. To the extent that like some deranged entomologist; I can see insects going about their business in perfect clarity.  Trees have a coloured hue edging every leaf and I feel as if I can feel the life -  the very process of photosynthesis - pulsing through the immediate ecosystem surrounding me.

The mist moved off gently to the right although there was no indication of a breeze to push it.  Indeed, contrary to its movement everything else maintained its perfect stillness.  As the mist passed opposite peg 10 I lost view and the world regained its status quo.

The sky was that autumnal Tupperware grey, the threat of rain but in general conditions gave no indication normally associated with mist rising from warm water into a fast dropping air temperature. Whilst conditions were neutral the "feel" of the area had changed  Still no wildlife or birdsong, no snapping of twigs, no sight of the local Kingfisher or Yellow wagtail.  

Just a stillness................

I lifted and lowered my rig again and rubbed my ears as the motion didn't register audibly with me.  Had I gone deaf? I snapped my finger next to my ear and could hear that but it seemed anything outside of my immediate proximity was mute.

Moments later, I was jolted by a whisper that was clearly a voice but incomprehensible and inarticulate.  I span round on my box thinking one of the normal crowd had sneaked up on me and was trying to give me a fright.  But there was no one there.  "Hello" I said "is anyone there".  "Spanners stop pissing about, and come out".  But the silence was deafening.  I shook it off, sat down and tried to concentrate; but an unease had got under my skin.

A few minutes passed and still the lake remained eerily calm. Until I heard again a mumbled voice off to my right.  Putting down the waggler rod I stood and challenged the empty space around me.  Stop F'in around whoever you are. I looked back toward the lake entrance nothing, and getting of my seat I looked down in the woods behind me, but could see nothing.  

Normal conditions returned the stillness abated and I cast again. The float dipped and a pristine roach came to hand.  I was just thinking how I was going to regale the tale to friends at tonight's committee meeting when I heard a gentle cough to my right.

Fully expecting to see my tormentor laughing at their prank, there was nothing there.  Except that is for the same blue hue of mist I had seen moving gently away to peg 10 on the far bank earlier.  Stillness returned.

Whilst slightly uneasy, I had no feelings of fear at viewing this phenomenon, and scrabbled around trying to find where I put my ever faithful camera.  Despite only charging the battery last night the camera seemed dead.

The mist stopped at peg 8, just of the peg on the slope up to the path. In way to high a voice I spoke.  Why I don't know. It resembled no particular form. "Hello, can I help?" Jeez you idiot I said to myself your losing it talking to mist for Christ sake.

It must have been my imagination.  Perhaps my sugar levels were out of whack; but I am sure it began to form the shape of someone sat on a stool.  Yes I know your thinking Gary's been sniffing the glue again, but I know what I saw.  No facial features were distinct except for what appeared to be a pipe at what could been head level.  Again I am sure I could smell my Fathers Clan pipe tobacco; but he never fished to my knowledge.

The moment was shattered as a Carp crashed on the surface sending bow waves down the lake. As I looked toward it, all birdsong and normal sounds returned and the rain began to fall steadily.  I looked back and nothing was there; the moment had passed.

Summary and disclaimer

I am not for one moment suggesting the lake is haunted; and I am sure it was all my imagination.  You judge.

I felt unease but completely safe through the whole event and never once did I feel threatened. I don't really believe in ghosts. Its not as if the lake is hundreds of years old like some old estate lake.  With all the accompanying spooky stories to bring in the punters.  In fact the lake has no history to my knowledge other than that it was a reservoir for the local farmer. Purposely dug out to irrigate his potatoes.

I will say, once roughly a decade ago I was out in the moonlight on a crystal clear frosty night when a similar mist appeared on the woodland track before me.  My dogs shrank back and growled in a guttural way and point blank refused to move forward.  I did indeed walk through the mist that night with no effect, no ecto-plasm stuck on my face no effect at all at that moment**.  

Interestingly my dogs refused to walk through the mist but skulked around it giving it a wide berth continuing to growl tails down, until we were some 50 yards away.

** Although there was no effect that night; the following morning parts of my beard where as white as snow.  They weren't like that when I went to bed............?

Pewsey Lake Match Number 7.. The Fall Guy

Van loaded with minimal gear I headed north to the Pewsey lake to host match 7 the first of the 5 hour winter matches.  The foggy morning lux level gradually increased to reveal a calm late autumnal day. The morning sun was creeping over the shoulder of the eastern ridge and filling my rear view with a blood orange dawn sun.   After a particularly difficult week at work and recent car expenses and poor fishing matches.  I felt today had to be the far side of my troubles and things will be on the up. Sure it happens to all of us, but when its happening to me I do get paranoid that I only have bad luck within me.

Whatever I was determined to enjoy the day, after all that's why we go fishing isn't it to enjoy it?  The music of Katy Perry (and the thought of Katy Perry) coupled with the soundtrack of Mama Mia, was making me happy - a good first step.  I had minimal gear to get back to basics.  Over complicating things lately and giving myself too much to do or ponder.  The ghostly voice of my mate John Dewberry was whispering in my ear. "Keep it simple, do one thing well; rather than 5 things badly and the fish will come."

Early doors I thought we were going to be short today. I was certain most of the lads would be attending an open match on the Thames as a pre-practice to next weeks winter league.  This of course had its advantages. The lesser amount of anglers would ensure guaranteed championship points. However my love of river fishing meant I was jealous as hell, and if I was not the Lake match organiser I would have been joining them.

The lake attendance this year has been good with a mixture of new faces and the old and the bald. I hope I am wrong but it seems to be changing, some of last years regulars have hardly showed this year.  I for one miss them. Jim B and Gary P are missing today, but Will Tapper is back, and Robin Pierce and Nic Worters have filled in. Leos back is playing up, and Neil Pegrum is well into the show season for his avian collection.  With a late change of heart (fishing the open on the river) both Spanners and Chris Rushton show.  So its 14 pegs.  God knows what I am going to do when they all want to fish.  Pewsey must start looking for a bigger lake.  Shouldn't complain at the booming interest in our match scene but we are running out of room.

 Few grumbles at the continuing early draw but more likes than dislikes so we will keep it going.  Wonder how its going to fish today, the colour is dropping out of it and a test of the temperature shows its dropped to 9 degrees, 3 degrees lower than last months match. Going to have to search the thermal layers today to find the feeding fish.  After dropping all the peg counters I did the normal parish notices; and the draw got under way.  Peg 4 the golden peg had £70 riding on it.  Me I was hoping to get into section 2 needed to draw a double figured number for a change.  Either that or peg 2, as the lily pad is still quite big and must hold some fish.  But as normal section 1 and peg 7.

With Robin on my left and Spanners on my right, some pleasant company if the fish were slow today.  The all in called I a little nervous after 20 minutes not to have a bite.  Still no one else apart from Marc Kay and Brian Shutler , in the next section was catching Another hour !!! before I had more fist bite on the waggler a bumble bee Perch from far side. Another hour and another bumble bee, and still no one was catching.  This is dire, the leaves are falling and I am managing o hook plenty of em.  In fact nice little compost heap building at my peg.  Suddenly Robin has a 1ounce Perch and uses his landing net taking no chances on this very, very tough day.

A third tiny perch for me and I am practically running away with it now with 3 fish for an ounce maybe.  Spanners is bemoaning the awful situation and everyone else starting to form opinions as to where the fish are.  Clearly they are not in section one , as Chas, Spanners, Si Burden and Nic Worters still haven't had a a bite and its ten past mid day.  Bad news for me as news filters down that Steve H has had 8 tiny fish of the lilies so I am fishing for second in section.  The Lake has always been a tale off two sections.  In fact a few years ago it was decided to change the points system to make the lake fairer.  Instead of the 15 down to 1 as on the canal.  It was felt fairer to give 8 points to the section winner down to 1. Otherwise all you have to do was draw in section 2 to be guaranteed good points.

The float dips and the violence of the run catches me of guard and the much, much bigger fish drives hard into the snaggy, far bank and as quick as it was on it was off.  As it had straightened the fine wire B510 size 20.  I take the opportunity to scale down to a 24 and a single squat, and it results in a 2 ounce roach..  And that my friends is it. Not another fish from 10 past 12 till 2.30 and the end of the match.  Spanners, Chas and Robin are all long gone, probably eating roast dinner.  Nic and Si have one tiny Perch each, Steve H has maybe 30 micro fish.

So to the weigh in. My 4 fish amassing a huge 3 ounces.  Steve has 1 lb 8 oz and easily wins the section. Me, I amazingly get 7 points for second in the section. Nic and Si have a half ounce each enough to give them 6 points.

I would say all the fish are in the other section.  But even that section struggles. Steve Cross saving blushes of the end peg with a carp in the last 5 minutes ,but only Chris and the inevitable Brian Shutler showing skill and style.  Brian's 3 lb and 12 lb Carp making him the winner.

So what turned out to be a cold miserable day in the end comes to a close.  I check the water temp for fun and during the match its dropped from 9 to 5 degrees. With that sort of change no wonder feeding fish were few and far between today. I suppose that's why the Americans call it the fall.  Falling Temp and Falling Leaves.

Mid week match on the canal to come and then Winter League at Lechlade next Sunday.

 See you then.

Wessex Winter Match 2 Clanfield - A comedy of errors

Overslept a little today not only are the nights drawing in but the mornings are darker too. The Flyer is back and steering fixed. Locked and loaded mine and several of the lads bait on board we whizzed through the quite country roads north to the meeting place at Chisledon garage. Banter and morning abuse out of the way we move on convoy style over the M4 and up through Highworth and Lechlade north to Clanfield.

The Clanfield Tavern was the venue for the draw, and as normal  it was the normal mash up of anglers wanting to get booked in, bait sorted and breakfast rolls (crap and overpriced) consumed.  Soon off down Marsh Lane ( a roller coaster of a farm lane) then across the fields to our pegs. After yesterdays heavy showers the grass was a little slippery for my van which is prone to wheel spin.  I had hoped for the lower number pegs (E or F section) and the hope of a Barbel or a couple of 6 lb slabs in that area, but I had drawn B6.

F 8 the very end peg went to Brian Shutler hope he makes the best of it.  This is where the comedy of errors starts.  Having driven to the peg. My brain had a meltdown and I promptly turned around drove downstream to C6.  Why ? I don't know; I think I am losing it.  Arriving at C 6 I was orgasmic what a peg! On the outside of a long bend and deep water at my feet with over hanging bushes that screamed Perch. Martin Aris looked me quizzically"you on that peg then?". 

Yep says I.  Having unloaded all my kit got it over the 5 foot  barbed wire fence and started tackling up .  Steve Trevett arrives what you playing at that's my peg you're on B6 you pillock.

You can imagine the air is blue as I get back over the fence load the van and drive back to B6.  By this time I have lost 45 minutes and I am a sweaty bag of snot as I then have to unload the van get it all over the fence at my proper peg.  So with minutes to spare I am ready, the guy upstream (bit of a local legend) wishes me luck and tells me he was third of my peg last week .  Happy days.

Drop the cupping kit as the all in is called dropping a ball of bait and hemp at my feet. Bugger fine start. I thought I had broken it but it seemed ok , a right comedy of errors.  Still be calm, and start again so I ship out.  The plan was to stick 5 balls in at the start then top up conker size nuggets every 20 minutes.  That's what the practice sessions for all of us had produced.  But shipping out the third ball I get to the dropping point the cupping kit complete with screw in section becomes unglued and the cup pops onto the surface of the river and goes bobbing away down stream. 

Really!!!!

Could this really be happening? As I examine the end of my cup top kit, I realise somehow its come unglued from the end and simply slipped off the end.

So after putting in the remaining bait with a dropper (slow process). I drop the rig in expectantly. Bang, in straight away and the first fish yes a pike!! from the pike man. Unbelievable one a week at the mo it seems.

At around a pound in weight it would have been a nice start.  Still its 2 hours after the 11 o'clock start before I get another bite.  Small Gudgeon (proper winter league fish) or not I was glad of it so I gave it a kiss and dropped it in the net.

So began the scratching and the hoping that everyone else was the same.  Waggler tangles, hooking my foot , keep net and bank side stingers it got worse. So I grimly carried on. Lowered in the bait dropper, hook length snapped and the dropper disappeared. What the hell is going on??? (even as I type this the laptop is playing up , photos are not uploading and what should have been finished ages ago is going wrong). Even the reliable choppy worm was only producing crayfish (17 IN ALL!)

Cant be hypocritical though.  Even if I don't do well at least I should stick to the team plan of getting small stuff in the net and aiming for good section points and an average of 6 points an angler (total 36 points) that should keep us in the running. 

Glad to get to the end.   So it was with trepidation that I awaited the scales. 

Even in packing up, I dropped my net in, thankfully losing no fish!  Somehow I had lost my worm scissors, knocked over the unused ground bait, stung myself on stingers, caught myself on barbed wire.  Finally popping one of my ancient Ivan Marks waggler's in the float box , I shut the lid catching the tip of the float and crushed it.  So angry, I went to kick the imaginary cat, and slipped twisting my ankle. What a day!

So to the weigh in.  Pewsey 1, 2 and 3 had drawn pegs 6,7 and 8, with me on 6.  So had I beaten my squad mates?

In short yes, Chas had 12 ounces and Chris Glover 2 lb.  Me sneaking it with 2 lb 2 oz.  There was some very close weights around the two pound mark, but I had beaten the two pegs either side of me.

It wasn't till pegs  3, 2 and 1 that the roach started to show and the weights were out of my reach. Still 4th and 5 points after that day, was a bloody miracle.

So to A section Ian Spanners Spanswick for team 1, Si Irwin team 2 and the waggler man Steve Hiscock for team 3. Worm had done it here with Si having a monster Perch, two weeks in a row the bonus fish man strikes. Still Spanners did him and team 1 keeps their nose in front. Worm had done well for 3 but crayfish had done him in.

C Section , not something Si Irwin wanted to hear said out loud today as his pregnant wife was about to pop, and he is waiting on the call. In this section Steve Trevett,( on my other peg C6!) Martin Aris and stand in sub Graham Godwin. Steve wins his section with nice Perch from the bush I mentioned earlier. Graham third, and the ever improving Martin Aris (sticking to team plan) scratched out a weight for midsection points. Well done him.

D Section and getting into the bigger weight Chubby type areas.  Kev the bread Chubb  P1 wins the section scratching out the small stuff. Steve Dean also a Clanfield member and effectively on home water, struggles to 11 oz. Lee Knight (fishing on last weeks 31 lb of Chubb winning peg) goes for it and ignores team plan and sits it out for Chubb.  Paying the price with last in section.

E section and Slab Bream world, but as with most other areas today the roach were conspicuous in the absence.  Perhaps the cold nights are tightening the shoals.

For the second winter league in a row, Leo draws a "mare" of a swim. Post match note.  it was noted afterwards the pegging crew only decided flip of a coin to put it in last minute .com.  Marc Kay and Paul Giddings fared slightly better, but Pewsey suffers in this section.

And so to the final F section. Brian Shutler P2 on the flier, with Pewsey club President sandwiched between him and P1 s Chris Rushton.  Come the day and co-meth the man.  Brian takes apart a great peg and wins the Match, well done to him.  

Slight fly in ointment as Chris's "after match pint" story doesn't tally with score sheet. He said the Radcot angler had 1 lb 15 and half ounces, but the sheet says tied on 2 lb?

  Sorry for the dark team sheet but the battery on the camera was fading ( another error on the day), but here it is.  Pewsey One winners on the day averaging that important 6 points an angler.

Clanfield (home water and summer league winners) second with Radcot 3rd.  

Brian Shutler wins it - well done mate. Picked up your envelope for you.  PS spent it already - lol.  Section wins for Steve Trevett, Kev Chubb and Spanners by default.

So after two rounds ( out of 5) it looks like this

1. Pewsey One           = 71 points

2. Swindon ISIS A     = 67 points

3. Radcot                    = 60 points

4. Pewsey Two           = 59 points

5. Pewsey Three         = 47 points

6. Clanfield A             = 46 points

7. Swindon ISIS B      = 38 points

8. Clanfield B             = 33 points

Go Pewsey - yes.

Next week back on my lake duties.  Jealous of some of the lads who have opted to fish on the Thames at Lechlade in an open match.  Ahead of the winter league on the same venue the following week.  Lets hope they share the love when it comes to anything learned.