It was stalemate as he couldn't get the head up on the fish so I left him to it. I would imagine it would still take a while and fish would have lost weight by the time he lands it, because the time it was taking, it must have missed a few meals. How much did it weigh Mark???
Radcot is going to be tight. News from angling contacts in the area and those friends who have visited and fished recently; left me with a state of mind that I would have to scratch. I would be happy with 6 points at worse. It would equal last year where I struggled with 32 gudgeon for 1 lb 3.5 oz and 6 points.
Still can't count your chickens in this competition. Plenty of talent all around. In fact it irritates me a little that some look on this comp as a second rate to the similar competitions. Fact is many of the guys in this comp have been top notch for years and its a pleasure to fish against them. Oddly enough the draw wasn't at the Swan pub, new ownership I believe. Which in a way detracted from the day. Nevertheless thank you to Clanfield Football club a very good replacement and the second time we have used it this year.
Being one point behind Radcot and them being on their home water we would have to go some to level up the scores. But I was up for it. In fact I was well in the zone and gagging for the match to start as early as last night (Saturday). I was trying to keep a lid on my energy to fish and was determined to fish a perfect match and not make any mistakes, or tangle rigs. Just be on it and do the team proud.
Into the car park and share out the bait, and it was with some relief that the draw was done and we could get to our pegs and get it on. Leo asked if I would like a short walk I declined and ended up in D section perm peg 7. I consulted with the oracle (Graham "Thames" Godwin) as I had never fished the area all my previous 4 matches on the Radcot stretch I had drawn Grafton lock or A section. He winced and said depends where the Perch are but that is a very weedy swim we don't normally put it in - you could scratch Gaz.
Not good then. Brian on the other hand had drawn the first swim above the Radcot bridge where the river and a side stream confluence - and I could tell by his beaming smile he was happy to draw another flier.
Thanks to Brian for getting me as close as possible and Marc Russ for getting me over the bridge. The fog was starting to lift as I got to my peg and looked into a clear weedy river. I set up and got eh net in. I could see right to the bottom of the 4 meter keep net.
The swim offered options but on plumbing around it was clear there was weed everywhere. There was the odd "hole" and Bleak were pipping on top everywhere. First mistake left my pole rollers on Brian's van so had to improvise with the rod bag. But my new Preston Dri fish wellies were a dream warm and comfortable, dear but worth it to have warm feet again.
No bites for me after 15 minutes. Where as Graham Godwin 100 yards down stream was into his third Perch. 45 Minutes in and whilst me and two above me hadn't even had a bite; I could here Graham announcing he was on around 10 lb of Perch and into his first Bream! Clearly the Perch he mentioned were well and truly in his swim.
I flicked the stick out as the river had started to move enough to pull it through. But it was stop start as I moved up and down trying to find a line through the weed. But to no avail. I resulted to lowering a rig into where there was a 4 foot gap and had my first bite on the hour a Gudgeon.
I started to ping the caster across to the reeds opposite ahead of the waggler following. I kept going with the "hole" changing to a heavier rig to get the bait passed the surface feeding Bleak. After an hour and half I had one 2 oz Perch 1 Gudgeon and 4 bleak.
So I cast the waggler across and started the metronomic process of feed. cast, hook bleak, swing in Bleak, feed, cast swing in Bleak.3 Hours in and Graham down stream is bagging with big bream now. Up stream no one is really do anything special and some have resorted to flinging the feeder to try and get a big Chub.
Me I keep rotating with getting a few Bleak close , then across on the waggler to get more Bleak and a 2 oz Chublet - specimen - lol. Changing from caster to maggot and then pinkie brought more fish but incredibly they were smaller still!
We are into the last half an hour and as the sun sets, I note the anglers up stream are now catching Roach and pulling away from me. Nic Worters - the other Pewsey Red angler on peg 1 told me later it was if someone had hit a switch the Roach were not there, and then suddenly with 35 minutes to go it was one a chuck.
I don't think there is anything as frustrating as trying really hard constantly changing tweaking the depth on the waggler but being unable to catch anything but embryo size fish. In fact one of my fish I kid you not was two eyes and an arse.
So the all out was called and another match slips by. That's 4 rounds and despite me doing well it has been loads of small stuff and not one single bonus fish. Lets hope the final round on the canal in two weeks brings my change of luck and I can get a few Bonus fish.
I weigh in a one Gudgeon a stack of bleak, 2 small Perch about 2 oz and 1 Chublet of around 2 oz. For 2 lb 8 oz.
So frustrating I tried so hard but ended up with my worst result of the comp so far 4th in section. I here Graham down stream from me ended up with 39 lb of Bream and Perch with one of the Bream going 7 lb.
I was packed up so followed the scales up the bank and initially I was pleased having beaten a couple above me. Pete Gilbert was a bit grumpy as he was convinced the he had been cheated out of 3 lb by the scales man. But as I said its the scales man's decision and both Nic on the scales and Frank on the board agreed it was 2 lb 15.
Pete smiled and walked away saying that was 3 all the way.
Frank Humphries and and Nic Worters on the first two swims over the bridge had struggled as I had with lots and lots of Gudgeon and Bleak, but it was the last 1hr / 45 minutes when the Roach arrived that made the difference and they were worthy 1st and 2nd.
I trudge back to the car park to meet Brian with an annoying frustration settling on me like the fog that was beginning to blanket us all and cover a lovely sunset.
I came into the day upbeat thinking "its all gravy baby" but the gods of angling knew different; and took me down a peg or two. As we gathered in the Car Park, Brian joined us and had come second in his section with nearly 12 pound, being pipped by the Thames legend Brian Ballard who had 19 lb with three Perch over 2 and half pound. Marc Russ went by disgruntled with his result and Leo was slightly more up beat with his third. Chris had one his section again - truly a purple patch for my little pony , he must be on for the individual title - good on him. Spanners had an unusual 5th.
With that in my mind Brian and I headed for home , and I started to analyse where I had gone wrong and let the boys down. To be honest though I don't think I had anything but Bleak in front of me so would have struggled to do better. Hey ho.
As we entered Tidworth I rang Leo to see if they had finished totting up the scores. Surprise , surprise three teams had tied for 1st on the day, Radcot, ISIS and Pewsey Blue with 29 points each!!!
What a lift that was for me, before the match Radcot was 1 point ahead of us; and despite wanting to be level or in front going into the last round on our cut. Still being only 1 point behind was not bad at all. Relief.
So we go into the last round in two weeks and its game on boys...............love it.
Next week back on the club Lake to scratch the tiddlers out of the gin clear pond, as it smothers itself with its winter coat of fallen leaves.
Its gonna be tough , but rather be fishing than anything else in life...
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