Pewsey boys Spring Jolly

Having not expected to fish this weekend a miscalculation in my holiday allowance meant I had a day available to join the boys for a Friday session at Shearwater.  Whilst it was a spare day it wouldn't be a whole day as I was required for some heavy furniture lifting at home.

That said it would be a chance to relax and have a bit of fun.  Scratched together some bait and leave the pole at home and decided to tip fish.

After arriving and deliberating over wind direction rain and general comfort we plumped for the boathouse bank the 5 of us in a row.

Colin Weston far end, then Brian "I can catch in a puddle"Shutler. Spanners (newly sponsored don't you know) Leo "house wife's favourite" Pocock and me on the end.  We chose our tackle and fired to the deep water in hope of some Spring Bream.

I was the only one to ball it in with a light white breadcrumb based ground bait.  The others choosing to do little and often with very sweet fish meal mix.  I was in straight away a small perch taking 3 maggots on a 16 hook.  Then several 4 oz roach before the the bigger 8 to 12 oz pristine beautiful Roach came.

That however was not what was required.  We had a quid on for the bloke with most fish over a pound.  The boys were not successful straight off although Spanners had dropped a Roach first cast.  The gradual approach by the lads though was starting to have an effect; as the first of the skimmers began to come to the landing nets.

I was pleased to see a skimmer bite too.  Only to find it was a pound + Perch with a gorgeous but small orange tail.

 
Spanners and Brian were starting to pull away. As the shoal settled in front of them.  Leo and myself were getting a couple but nowhere near the rate of the dynamic duo.  Colin on the other end was like me getting Roach and Perch with the occasional skimmer.

The rain and wind increased and it became difficult to get the 30 gram block feeder on the same spot.  Adjusting to cast right  a few degrees into wind I was soon back on the spot. and still the Roach came . With the latest being really close to a pound.

Having just watched a similar fish from spanners being unanimously turned down as not big enough to count, I smiled inwardly and slipped it back.  The laughter and banter continued as we enjoyed the four seasons in one day weather.  My brolly was up and down like  a whores knickers and the coat on and off with equal repetition.

I decided to take a closer look at the lads rigs to try and understand why I couldn't get the skimmers.  Straight away I noted my hook tail length was too long and it was clear this was making the bait drop slower through the water and be intercepted by the Roach.  On return to the peg I changed from running feeder to fixed paternoster with a short "rotten bottom" to the feeder . Changed from 16 to wide gape 18 hook and a worm caster bait.

I fed the bread ground bait to the ducks and a few local springtime Robin red breasts.  Knocked up a fishmeal batch and was back in.  By this time Leo was getting some big Bream and Brian / Spanners still catching.

There was no change initially to the pea pod 12 oz Roach which kept coming, but then I had a skimmer and another and another.  Leo had a skimmer to keep his lady fans happy I went along to take a pic.

Down came the rain again and the water became positively choppy with white topping waves.  Perfect practise for those of to the Irish Loughs soon.

Spanners was putting on a right exhibition - some would say his fishing wasn't bad either. Just kidding mate.  Before long Leo and I had 6 Bream a piece but Brian and Spanners were pulling away in their own little battle.  Colin on the end was still catching but like me he was also plagued with Roach.

I do apologise, I am not complaining . For those like me who have struggled for bites on the canal, the regular bites were delightful. Cramp set in and I needed to walk it off.  So I went down to watch Spanners and get some action shots, not of his exhibition but his fishing lol.

On cue the Matrix Sponsored angler lands another skimmer amongst much abuse from us all.  Gotta say many of us were very disappointed to see him go from Pewsey to Matrix, but that's life he is still a Pewsey boy at heart.  He takes the masses of well natured banter about his departure very well.  After all lifes too short and we are all mates still.

This fish put him 2 ahead of Brian in their tussle.  Both looking good for a quid.  That said if it was on weight Leos fish were bigger.

Before long I had the dreaded call and had to head for home.  With Carp anglers queueing,  SPOD Rods in hand, behind me for my spot I departed with one more pic off the house wife's favourite , although the others were saying "more like readers wives" haha.

So and end to to a bonus trip, maybe 18 lb of Roach two 6 ounce Perch a bigger Perch and 6 good skimmers around 2 lb a piece. Lovely.........I wonder who did win the pound bet.  See you next week.

Pewsey - Chocolate Milk leaves bitter taste.

First Canal match of the new season and we gather at Milk house. Attendance is going to be low as sponsored anglers will be attending Ditchers spring league.

Atilla, Mike and Steve wait on the towpath , Simon and Leo are pegging out but others are arriving too.  Good mornings out of the way, I looked with dismay at the canal which was really chocolate brown.  Compared to the lovely water and day at Hungerford last week today was a real opposite.

The boat by peg 1 was holed and sinking and the canal was still suffering the churning , turning choppy effects of the Kayak race at Easter.  This year they have really smashed it up.

  I was last to draw and was left with peg 2.  which in fact was perm peg 12.  I set up reasonably quickly whilst the sun battled with the clouds and cold wind to try and make it a nice day.  The swim used to be a good one until recent slash and burn by the Canal River trust has left it a little barren.

Leo called it at 9.30 and it signalled two hours of nothing bite wise, and plenty more Kayaks and boats some of which were really motoring , their bow waves smashing the banks and stirring up the canal even more.  My enthusiasm was draining and I found myself devoid of ideas.  No use sulking fishing is for fun and I must get on with it.  

I decided to go across earlier than normal to try and get a bite.  4 Tangled rigs later I backed of a little and found the 2 foot line.  I had young Morgan Plank to my right on peg 1 

and Colin Weston to my left.  Chris Rushton had drawn the far end peg. Mike Marsden and Brian Shutler were walking the bank, and the news was grim.  Mike had decided to pack in.  Steve Dean was going home, and Brian was bemoaning only 1 bite.

The one bite was a skimmer that would in his opinion make a pound and a half.  And so the match dragged on the sun gave up and the wind increased.  With half the match gone I was sitting pretty it seemed.  I had a pound and 3 quarter Bream 3 tiny minnow size roach, 1 gudgeon a 3 oz Perch.  It seemed only Atilla Adam was going well he had a big hybrid, 2 skimmers and a Perch.

That was it till the end of the match.  I had three more little roach in the last hour , Colin to my left had a couple of tint fish near the end.  Brian was stuck on 1 bite one fish.  Chris on the end peg had 6 oz. Simon Burden won the section by default with 1 lb 8.  

Attila won the match with 3 lb 7 oz. Leo had a couple of oz,Colin 4 oz and Morgan 3 oz.  Brian was second with his one fish weighing in at 2 lb 7 oz - pound and half my arse.

Me, well not far behind Brian with 2 lb 4 oz, third place. 1 Bream and 8 little fish. 

As Leo payed top two, it meant I didn't pick up, but I did get a tenner for section win .So a free days fishing.  Areal shame to see it taking so long this year for the canal to get into fish bagging Spring condition.  But he ho never mind can't complain at third.

Top Three

Attila the winner in the middle - well done Dino man. Brian to the right me to the left.  Keep forgetting to photo score sheet but never mind.  Thanks to Leo for all the leg work.  Weekend off next week as its Hampshire and Broadlands show.  Kit needs some admin too.

Beautiful day so Rock on Tommy

Wasn't going to fish this week, but Chris "My Little Pony" Rushton. Talked me into fishing an open at Hungerford. Chris Wiltshire's  top stallion lover, or so he tells us, kindly booked me in and I headed fort he John O Gaunts pub in Hungerford for the draw and a bit of breaky.

North through the villages left at the Shears pub and straight over the downs it was a superb life invigorating experience the sky was clear and the brightest blue  and the change over of shift from nocturnal to daytime wildlife was in progress.  The Daffodil heads pressed low to the ground by a brutal night time frost, were beginning to respond to the suns warmth.

The New Order (True Faith) song on the radio seemed perfect for the Daffies with its lyrics " I used to think the day would never come, that my life would depend on the Morning Sun"

Anyway as I dropped of the downs into Hungerford I looked right at the hamlets and was reminded of the Shire from the Hobbit.  Green, lush with crops burgeoning into life, willow the wisp smoke from the chimneys on the thatched cottages what a day good to be alive.

Into the pub then and oh very posh. We had already booked in for breaky and the tables were laid with pots of Tea and Coffee, little dish of butter posh knife and forks and various condiments.  As always the Matrix boys grabbed the end pegs on the table  - no change there from the end peg boys.

 The whole ambiance was way to civilised, but I loved it.  The banter and laughter was great and the conversation turned to football and Man Utd.  I did volunteer so football knowledge but as only one of two Leeds fans I was told I was wanted in the telephone box outside Leeds were waiting to start their AGM!!  Cheeky bastards.

Breakfast arrived and to match its surroundings it was perfectly displayed on the white China plates.  Complete with herbal green garnish (garnish no less at a fishing match) serviettes and side plate very nice.

Eggs, Sausage, Bacon, Beans, Black pudding, Mushroom Tomato and Toast. I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed it.

To the draw and I drew peg 17 pretty much the centre of the 34 anglers.

The car park after the draw as people get ready to do battle

My peg looked ok but being on a slight bend had silted up quite a bit on the far line very shallow.  Mr Giddings advised me to feed heavy with ground bait caster and worm, and as he fishes it regularly I took his advice. So with equal numbers of anglers either side of me

The match started in glorious sunshine and stayed that way all day.. The downside was the sun brought out the boaters and towpath traffic but you can't have it all.  The Red Kite swooped and cried above us, mobbed by the crows; and a Grey Heron lifted lazily into the air.

First decent bite brought a crayfish .  And it appeared the worm line I had , had attracted 3 more before I changed a re-baited elsewhere. The bread line brought nothing to the net so it was into the deepest bit.  Sail away and Tommy Ruffe was swung in, amazingly i had 6 more in a row.  Even more amazing was I had 22 Tommy Ruffe by the end , the most I have ever caught in one session. Rock on Tommy

As it was though I was nowhere in the section the guy to my right had a big fat Perch and PG to his right a big skimmer.  PG however was now across and catching one a chuck.  To my left it appeared most were struggling like me except the end pegs which were going strong with Bream.

I did have a good fight with what I thought was my bonus fish, but it turned out to be a trout.  He Ho.  The all out was called and it was clear Alan Gibbs had won our section with a Bream and 3 skimmers PG was probably second.  I wasn't  going to weigh in but did, sure enough not enough weight to challenge but who cares I had thoroughly enjoyed sitting in the sun catching a few , trying hard to get a bonus fish but losing out on this occasion.  Thanks to the Match organiser for a good day.  Thanks to my little Pony for booking me in.  It was good to see Mike Marsden, Alan Brown, Gary Williamson, Chavey, Gary the Fish Etheridge and many others who I haven't seen for some time.  Good to see they are happy and angling well.

Now shall I fish Pewsey Canal next week????

Remember me the bloke who used to Blog

Well its been a few weeks.  Self imposed removal from the fishing world has been nice.  To be frank I have got fed up of the sound of my own moaning voice.  Even the sight of my tackle filled me with dread of having anything to do with fishing or Pewsey club.

Don't get me wrong the Pewsey guys past and present are superb human beings but I suppose its like any good thing, you can get too much.  The year ahead then - well I tried to disconnect from Pewsey the closer of my friends had decided to follow other previous good anglers and leave for the sponsorship scene.  Nevertheless the club still has many an angler to fill those boots and will go forward.  It was just a case of whether I, in my mind, I could offer anything more.

Voted in again under duress to be Secretary, I will fulfill another year.  One thing my exile has done has reminded me its not necessary to devote every spare waking minute to the club and spend a little time enjoying angling for angling's sake.  The joy of catching my favourite Roach, sharing the delight of others successes even if the bastards are beating me.

I am just gutted that my dream of Pewsey rising again to be the main challenger in all competitions including the National, has floundered.  As talent has drifted to Devizes, Thatchers, Swindon Matrix, SENSAS and so on.  Oh well better to have tried and failed, than not to have bothered.

So the day starts with a little bit of excitement to be easing back into the scene, with a little Lake match.  Lets give a round of applause to Mark Russ for taking on the Lake matches and I look forward to supporting him when I can.

All round good bloke Mark Russ (grey top on right) accepting a trophy

When I can because this year in an attempt to freshen up the angling I wont be attending every match, there will be days when I think, bugger it I am going go there today, or I feel like a few hours Barbelling or god forbid a bit of Beachcasting.

The day broke early for me needing to get the dogs out before leaving.  Squeezing them into the van I was away to the woods.  Maybe a rabbit or pheasant for the new boy Jake,  Kip the old Terrier being too old to really compete anymore.  It was bloody surprisingly cold considering there was a little cloud cover and I smiled as an awesome sunrise was greeted by the sound of hoar-frosted turf that crackled underfoot.

Brock the Badger (ever on the increase) had been busy during darkness, scratching to the surface the grey squirrels winter hoard of acorns, there was little holes everywhere with tell tale acorn shells.

Rabbits were thin on the ground, in my old haunts as the third wet winter in a row has left the population short of dry warrens and the dry roughage diet they need to proliferate their population.
However the hardy rat population was running riot on the farmers winter feed supply.  Both dogs strained to have a go but the youthful inexperience of Jake led to barking. A strange linguistic brew of puppy yap and a growing dogs deeper more guttural sound.

A quick exit before a salt block or worse from the Farmers 12 bore skimmed my ear.

Still down by the river its always worth a stop to gaze into the Babycham clarity of a chalk stream.  To watch the now out of season Grayling dance like their nic name Ladies of the stream, a joyous moment between me and God , nature.

A keen sun pushed the sun higher in the sky and I knew I had to leave it, and get away to the Lake.  Still it would have been nice to bounce a nymph amongst the Ladies or even a dry fly upstream the way its supposed to be.

Back in the van and homeward bound to drop of the dogs.  In an attempt to build a little muscle on Jakes puppy body I had fed him a little raw tripe and cooked mackerel yesterday - pay back time now has an almighty fart mingled with a kilo of past their sell by date worm and the foul dry Bream slime from the last fishing trip. Which was still hanging on the keep nets.

Now its very hard to drive whilst your body convulses in involuntary dry retching, but drive I did as down came the van windows and I hung my head out to gulp glorious fresh air as the circulating wind dissipated the foul smell. Jake looked well pleased with himself at producing such an evil classic.  He didn't look so pleased though when I left him behind and got on my way.

I was drowning myself in nostalgia this morning, and backing that up with early Genesis albums on the cd player in the van.  I enjoy nothing more than bowling along in a vehicle on lowly populated roads music blasting , me banging the steering wheel like a joint smoking Phil Collins banging his drums in the late seventies.  Its times like this when you wish the journey was little longer.  So as I near the Lake "The Lamb lied down on Broadway " and we slipped into "Selling England by the pound" and aptly Phil told me he "Knows what he likes in my Wardrobe" considering the layers I had on today . Fashion was not a first thought.

The meet and greet for the new round of matches is always nice, waiting for those who have forgot to own up its new rod licence time and theirs is in the post etc etc. A poor turn out of 8 with the big boys attending Ditchers Spring League the attendance was low.  Additionally some, ahead of a trip to Ireland, were down at Shearwater practicing the long range Bream feeder fishing.

Grey Squirrels scooted up trees and a Buzzard floated heavily from a high branch his heavy outspread wings taking him clear of the noisy gathering anglers.  Even a distant Roe deer pressed itself as low as it could into the short sprouting rape seed crop. So as not to be seen.

The draw was imminent and in a final tip of hat toward Genesis.  It was time to "Turn it on Again".  So what would the gods of the draw bag offer me this time.

Well after last years disastrous draw bag, a pleasant surprise to draw at the Carp end, and an end peg 15, and to top that the golden peg.

I ran to my peg and set about kitting out the peg a cold bitter south easterly cur across from the right, and following the snow and hail from yesterday I didn't hold much hope of Carp feeding in the icy water.

I was glad to have layered up movement was difficult but plenty of clothing would keep me warm.  To my left Mark Russ then Brian on the peg that's won the last three matches. Then the rest of the fellas through to Nic Worters on the other end peg.

I started on the splodger and was rewarded with two pup 6 oz Carp and another around 2 lb.  We all chopped and changed trying to find the magic formula but to be honest the very cold water and ever increasing icy wind were making it difficult  to hold a pole or indeed present a bait well.  Raspberry Tea and chicken and ham pie made a nice distraction as I watched a dormant quiver tip.

Time to catch some silvers.  So a change to maggot and I was away catching the normal stamp of small roach.  Back wards and forwards between two different swims I eecked out the fish by swapping depths and combinations of maggot, caster and pinkie.

Two hours without a fish I was desperate to get a few more Carp.  Simon had, had a big Chubb, Mark a skimmer and Brian several little pups.  If I was to win the match and take the Golden peg i needed a big Carp.  I swapped to a pop up pellet and coated it in pineapple smoke bomb goo from the carp bag of tricks in my trolley. Poured the tea and cast.  It had been in the water about 10 seconds when the rod was wrapped around.  The Carp ploughed through the bull rushes and snagged.  I eased it out into open water then it headed for the steels on the right and tried to wrap around them.

Then it tried to get around the peg platform to my right.  Finally after a great fight I got it to the net, one final dash away and some frantic back winding and I still had her,  So to the net again and I could see her, a known fish I had caught before.  Always around 11.5 to 12.5 in weight I knew I had the golden peg and match in the bag.  I stretched with the net at which point the landing net pan began to unscrew.  Frantically trying to scoop , I clipped the method feeder and the loosening knock sprung the feeder and it flew past my ear leaving me to panically stab at the fish as it slipped into the depths.

Deep laughter from Mark and Brian and I would imagine a few others as everyone realised I had not put the match beyond them.

I squeezed the rod butt in silent rage and started again. Thank fully I had a few more small Carp before the all out and with minutes to go, rumour on the bank was I was looking good. A slight fly in the ointment Nic Worters on the other end peg had had, a large carp on the whistle and got it in.

So to weigh in with me on the scales 2 lb 3 oz of Roach

AND 12 lb 8 of Carp

Gave me 14 lb 11 oz.  Mark pipped me by an ounce, on the silvers with 2 lb 4 oz his big skimmer meaning he led with the silvers, but had no Carp.

Brian outdid Mark with 2 lb 15 oz of Silvers and with his pup Carp a total of 6 lb +  We made our way along , Jim Broomham had 1 15, Will had blanked , Simon's Chubb gave him 4 lb + and the lead in the silvers , and Neil Pegrum had struggled to a low silvers weight.

Nic pulled out his Carp and it was a fat 8 lb 9 oz, bugger what silvers did he have .  Blast it he had a bream and a biggish skimmer and a load of bits for 7 lb+.

So Nic had beaten me with his end of match Carp and denied me the Golden peg, by a pound.  Never mind he ho, I had second in the match and second in the super pools.  Gotta smile at that.

The framers, Nic left. Bri keeping the wind of our backs; and so it was home to get the layers of clothing off and down some Mulligatawny soup.

 Lucky Bri picked up third. See you next time , not sure when that will be , but I will be there.