Busy weekend again as the change in the dates to the Basingstoke canal league causes another Saturday Sunday, the wife is getting angry that family is taking a back seat to fishing again. She has a point, but I didn't plan it this way its the organiser's of the Basey that have caused this pile up.
So a horrendous day beckoned weather wise with gale force winds and heavy rain were forecast. I drew pondfields section and with Spanners crock with bad back, we were down to three. Brian also backed out but thankfully Marc Kay once again stood in. In between the showers we set up and strategically placed my kit were the least chance of falling tree debris would cause damage.
The all in was called and the guy two to my left on our section end peg , started with what looked like a carp from were I was. Match 2 minutes old. Bugger. 5 Minutes in and I have had a roach. This delighted me to get a bite so quick on this canal had to be promising. Opposite the detached houses and there gardens ended at the far side of the canal. A ginger tom was drinking from the canal far side and the opening of the morning curtains distracted my gaze for a moment.
And what a distraction as a lovely naked 40ish woman flung the curtains wide and bared her body to me. She must be used to anglers as she gave me a quick wave. I waved back and tried to lift my jaw of my chest and get on with the fishing. But she didn't exactly cover up or move away so I gripped my pole and thought of England. I shared this unusual perk with the guys either side of me. First question was one of gravity. As one commented are they up here , indicating high and firm or down here indicating more waistline. But as it was succinctly put by the other fella , it don't matter Tits are Tits, when you don't see em often.
The match was less exciting although I was grinding away at the small stuff, bloke left of me had Pike trouble and was landing a 5 lb + fish when he stood up in the gale force winds. His brolly took of but he hung on manfully reaching with his landing net the wind brought down a branch on his head he was lucky it was glancing blow. More on the peak of his cap, but it pushed the peak down the front of his face over his eyes. So the poor fella was fishing blind trying to hang onto his kit , and give him his due he got it in.
As the clock ticked by the tow path traffic increased with one jogger not willing to wait for the guy two to my right to move his pole and ran right through it . The angler jumped up and squared off with the burly jogger who was much bigger and younger. After an exchange of words the jogger grabbed the pole and through it into the canal!!!.
What with falling trees and branches gale force winds and angry joggers I was glad to weigh in and get away. I wasn't unhappy 55 fish for 1 lb 13.5 oz not last in section and matching many on the small fish. Just didn't have the bonus fish to go with it - most had a skimmer between 2 and 3 lb.
The Carp at the start turned out to be a lb Bream! when added to 6 lb of roach gave the angler 11 lb +
My mate James Carty pipped him by 3 ounces to win the match. Well done JC.
............Saturday done, Sunday was upon me and my annual task of running the blind pairs match. My new dog Jake didn't seem to pleased at the early start or that he wasn't coming with me and sulked on the pillow.
After a lovely breakfast at the Golden Swan (great value £5) I did the first draw. The first you may ask. But this blind pair format is draw, fish and draw again after the match. To see who you have been fishing with. Weights are then combined and heaviest wins.
So of to my peg and joy upon joy I was in the area of the Bream winning peg from last week. Further my peg some 30 yards left had Bream actually rolling in it. I had Winter League Champ Chris Rushton to my left and he had Matrix angler Paul Giddings left of him. On my right on the Bream peg (also end peg 1) Alan Gibbs.
Match started and I cupped in licky bread on top of the Bream Choppy line well left; and then quickly lowered in my 4 mill punch. The float dipped I held my breath and hoped it would be a Bream but no, it was an ounce roach. Chris had just netted fish and Alan left of me was swinging in a small one.
No wind (well little compared to yesterday) and dry but cold. I carried on with joy in my heart convinced one of the big fish rolling and crashing into each in my swim would take the bait. Fishing was certainly better than working like the poor buggers in the field opposite.
At one point three Bream rolled at the same time right on top of my float , the smallest being 3 lb + and the biggest a big old Bronze 5 pounder. I changed bait through the punch sizes, 2,4,7 and 10 mill. Even a piece of flake but no joy. Caster, red, maggot , bronze and pinkie still no joy. Finally I tried the worm and was rewarded with a 2 oz Perch but nothing else.
All day I was on tender-hooks convinced that the next fish would be a Bream or a hybrid but nothing. Alan to my right lost a really big maybe 3 pound Perch at the net but was quickly rewarded next drop in with another around 2 pound. Far as I could see all those to my left were doing no better than me but the Perch had given him the lead at least at his end.
My battle with the Bream was lost gradually the rolling ceased and moved away to my right, leaving me to catch Gudgeon after Gudgeon.
I called the all out and the weigh in began in the spitting rain. It was clear straightaway the bigger fish had been walked up the canal and around the corner with most having at least one big hybrid each.
James Carty (JC) had two big Perch and had also had two pike.
With 3 pound + the stamp , it was Simon who bucked the trend with both big Perch and Hybrids for over 5 lb.
After that the weights dropped off as they got nearer to me. Finally Alan on the end with his Perch making half his weight. So it was back to the pub for the blind draw.
Pegs are drawn and matched as a pair. Before that though. Arthur and Colin take their beer prize for the 2 lowest weights on the day. Leo had 1 lb 6 oz the closest to the mystery weight of 1 lb 8 oz.
J C listened with hope that he would draw a partner to match his weight and give him a trophy he has yet to win.
However, not to be as he drew Arthur who had one fish for half ounce (shown above as 0.5 - should be written as 0.05). Never mind James maybe next year. Simon's efforts carried Cliffs 5 ounces into second place, with Steve Dean and Brian Shutlers big hybrids getting them 3rd.
So that left the worthy winners as Andrew Chatterley and Alan Gibbs as the winners with a combined weight of 6 lb 9 oz. Well done lads.
See you next week , wonder if I will draw a room peg with a view of another obliging woman????
I hope so.
