Summer League and Horcott horror for most

To the second round of the summer league.  BBQ first and Ali Foreshaw banged out some cracking nosh the sweet chilli sauce was excellent.  All of it though was putting off the inevitable, and that was the fishing.  Its a difficult game organizing a comp and Dazzer Edgell does so well.  But when you pick a venue you have no idea what its going to be fishing like.

As the day came nearer a last minute change was instigated to put two sections on another lake as the main lake was fishing so bad. lets hope it would pay off.

Daz explained all the local rules and the reason for the changes any moans about the pegging were rightly dismissed.  There is too much fishing by committee these days. Opinions are like ass holes everyone has one.  Funny though how those whingers back  away complete with their opinions when it comes to doing the leg work organising.

My view, not popular I know but, if someone is willing to peg out in all weathers do all the leg work in organising etc, then all we need to do is turn up and pay.  If you don't like the organisers style or the way he works, then don't fish or turn up. Fish somewhere else. You pay your pools and you take your chance

So to my shit peg. Ha ha just kidding.  My peg was in B section not favoured by most in the know but I was certain I could get something out of it.  The day was cold and cloudy with a threat of rain.  The water was about 10 degrees warmer than the air above and there was quite a ripple pushing into the lower numbers of B section and high number pegs of A section, would the fish go with it?

I set up a heavy and medium feeder, a heavy and light waggler plus two 4 mtr whips.  I had masses upon masses of weed in front of me where the water was around 7 to 8 feet deep.  But with only the two top feet of water weed free I plumped for a sloppy surface ground bait and loose feed to draw the lakes Rudd shoals up out of the weed.

That because I had no idea where the clear gravel bars were on this big venue. I also didn't want to sit it out for 5 hours in the hope of a 10 lb Bream , Carp or Tench.  Its a team event for points so get fish in the net.

Whilst I waited for the start i noted a million half inch fry in the bush to my left.  Thoughts. There must be a predator near by lets hope its a Perch.  On the hooter Dougie Foreshaw arrived to fish having already fished a match and winning at alt Medley and Foley this morning.  Thing was Nigel Russell had already set up in Dougies peg 6 to my left when he should have been on peg 8! Nige was on the verge of filling in with Hemp and ground bait so it was ten minutes into the match they swapped and set up in their right pegs.

Meanwhile a swirl by the bush at the first pouch of maggots confirmed fish around the fry so I flicked the whip out and watched the float settle. Promptly it slid away and I carefully netted a angry 5 oz Perch.no more bites for the next two hours despite constantly ringing the changes.

I did have two wheelbarrow loads of weed dragged in by both waggler and feeder rigs.

The lake was slate grey reflecting the now raining sky.  Leo came along to get more kit from his van as he had no bites.  It appeared from the bank side runners that I was winning the section.  The only person to have a bite and a fish.

Another hour and was that a tap on the tip. I reeled in peeled back the weed and sure enough a 4 oz Perch.  As no one else had even had a bite in my section I felt I was bagging up lol.

After nearly 4 hours a message came in that Martin Aris had a Rudd, Paul Rice in A section had around 15 lb of Rudd but no one else had anything in a or b sections. No idea at all what was happening in C and D.

Then the killer the peg hopper Nige Russell had , had a Tench. I re doubled my efforts for a big fish with no joy so as a last gasp I returned to the bush to my left and stuck on a pinkie maybe the Rudd had moved in.

No such luck.  However, i did scratch another Perch on the drop.  So 3 Perch for around 1 lb as the hooter went.  I was in a hurry to get away the wife was unwell when I left her, it was 8pm and I still had a hour plus to drive home.

I did have time to find out I had second in section . Nige Russells 1 bite was a Tench of nearly 3 pound. Leo had also had a bite which resulted in a half ounce fish and Martin Aris had 9 ounces for third.  Dougie Foreshaw and the rest had blanked although I imagine Dougie took some solace in his mornings match win on the Thames at Foley. My weight confirmed at 14 oz.

Sorry have no idea of the final results other than my fellow team members, Nic and Mark dry netted and Neil had mid section points.  I am sure Dazzer will publish results later this week and I will try and edit if I have the time.

See you next time.

Pewsey June at the Lake

So we are already in June and second match of the month.  The miserable weather reflected the miserable England football result last night, the Russians getting an undeserved late equalizer.  We waited for Morgan but he didn't show so we drew .  I drew the two golden pegs.  First one capped at £50 was a flier peg 12 the other peg 6 so that was safe as it rarely produces.

Gary P drew peg 6 and tried out his new rain hat.

Brian Shutler drew the other £50 golden peg and looked absoloutley delighted to be on the flier!

The rest of us dug in I had peg 5 Spanners on four, With Colin Weston , Roly Phillips and Jim Broomham making up the rest of the first section.  Just leaving our excellant match organiser Mark Russ on peg 3 the end peg.

That left Simon, Neil Brian Will T making up the other section with Nic Worters on the end peg.  Thats three end pegs in the last three matches for Nic Worters and the carpy end of the lake was crawling with moving fish. Nic looked well pleased.

Will was a bit more contemplative deciding on Red Robin pellet or meat .

So that match got under way and I decided to go for the Carp from the off, as opposed to catching Roach etc, would I regret that later?  It was as normal a slow start for the lower number pegs.  That is until Mark on 3 was smashed up by a Carp.  Spanners was soon to follow only in his case his elastic snapped in a battle with a big un.  The rest of us were struggling to get in amongst the Carp and I was scratching small 2 oz Perch  5 one after another.

Mark was now dobbing for Carp and had landed a nice common.  So the rest of us would be chasing him for the section.  He had more as well so was looking good for framing.

The other end were catching and it was clear that as eggs are eggs you would have to be that end to win.  The match slowed and I scratched out a few pup carp and a beautiful coloured Crucian.  It all slowed to nothing and we turned to chatting to pass the day.

Every subject was covered , work, the football, the lads that were missing in Ireland.  How well others appeared to be drawing etc.  Even men's health came into it.  As the discussion went down the route of Prostrate examination and many other medical issues faced by men of our age.

Apparently it was best to avoid a Doctor with long fingers.  Lol. I must admit I was a little confused on the Prostrate front and explained my confusion to the boys.  How come then when my Doctor examined me he had both hands on my shoulders.  We all fell about laughing and as with all Pewsey matches the banter and fun was to the fore.

The match despite the lack of bites went quickly just as the rain came and went, and before we knew it the purgatory was all over. 

So to the weigh in. Nic, Brian and Simon had bagged at the Carpy end and it was clear Mark had taken our section.  I hoped for the silvers pool but Roly had a Chubb it seemed. We would have to see.

Sure enough the weights came from the other end; and Roly did have a 2.5 lb Chubb.  Me I had Silvers but not enough to crack Rolys Chubb, perhaps I should have gone for them first after all , wasted a lot of time on the feeder and down the edge going for big stuff.

My few pup Carp didn't amount to much either.  But I did get section by default and 7 points so can't complain.

  Well done to Nic winning of the end peg, Brian didn't do enough to get the Golden peg on the flier but never mind.  Marks dobbing paid of and he got third.

Well done to Roly , his Chubb and couple of snotties was enough for the silvers pool.

The score sheet was marked up as wrong showing Marks Carp weight against Spanners name, who ended up with 1 lb 4 and a half.  Shame I didn't go a pound with Spanners I would have levelled us up!!!!

So to the winning Trio.  So regular the facial recognition is kicking in on the camera.  Mark left Nic in the middle and once again Brian Shutler.

Pewsey and Ladies Bridge in the June Sunshine

Its been a funny week of ups and downs. New family member Flint arrived on Sunday a beauty black with a little white round the edges hence his name . 8 Weeks old and into everything

That was the up and then came the downs of a family funeral mid week. Followed by the shocking news my brother in law Gordon had a heart attack on Friday. Gordon has been more of a brother to me than either of my actual brothers , it was he who took me fishing for the first time and installed in me a love of the game , the wildlife that surrounds the water the competition element etc.

In his day he was one of the best and considered by many a top angler.  I was and am still proud of him and his achievements. In a time before poles he would be the one catching on the waggler on the canal, on the stick on the river and on the feeder in the big matches at Longleat. Some of which you can read at:

http://grfishingmemories.blogspot.co.uk/

Memories of Honey street and Ladies bridge balling in and catching over 100 lb on bread flake.  So it was with some what of a lump in my throat I drove to the very place he first took me on the canal Ladies Bridge.  I was going to cancel and drive to Devon to visit him in hospital , but my sister said it wouldn't help.  So I went fishing knowing in my heart Gordon wouldn't want me to miss such a beautiful day in the sun and you never know I might even draw in the bay.

Attila met me at my house and followed me there, and we parked up and unloaded.

So to the draw , showed Leo the new membership book paid my pools and drew peg 4 - in the bay not quite prime but close enough. Your man Brian Shuttler drew dead centre of the bay again!!!

I felt like the filling in a sandwich of good anglers , to my right Simon B, Spanners and left Brian and Kev Chubb.  I was going to get spit roasted here.  Spanners offered a quid on. Grudgingly I accepted he is 2 quid up on me after taking one of me at Kintbury.

The all in was called and the expected rush of stacks of Bream one after the other never happened.  In fact it was 2 hours plus before any of us caught.  James was walking the bank with news that those up the narrows were struggling also , but Nic on the end peg had a couple of skimmers from a shady spot under the bush.

I was beginning to get a few small roach and perch and a little Tommy Ruffe, and was level with Brian who had a small skimmer.  Maybe on 12 oz.

3 Hours in and a few boats were coming though kayaks and double boating was not helping. Suddenly Brian had three Bream in ten minutes.  I put away the track rig and went across to the no turning poles.

I had one straight away a nice Bream.  Then a rip roaring run as what must have been a Carp ripped away straightening the hook.  This was followed by two more trashed rigs, and a change to 0.12 straight through to a size 16.  Two more Bream came in before I was snapped up again.  The long pole was killing my back anyhow so I swapped to the waggler on the same line.

Several small roach one Rudd and a two tiny skimmers but no more Bream.  Brian on the other hand was still bringing them in in between being snapped up himself. After 35 frantic minutes it went very quite again.  I tried the whip line.  A ripping bite and the whip was bent double, I just waited for the snap.  Then from the depths it surfaced , was it a pike, a tench, no it was my first ever pair of Boxers caught on line and hook.

Brian asked if I was going to keep em, and I replied they belonged to Ralph Lauren.  Simon was sure he had never seen Ralph at Ladies bridge and was fairly certain he wasn't a member!

Back to and no more bites as the clock ticked down, the sun beat down on a  very hot and dehydrated angler.

So to the weigh in and the lads came down the bank and Brian in his lovely cool peg. Fair play to him he made the most of his flier. A worthy winner his six Bream giving him 20 lb +

I took a pound of Spanners, leaves him one up in the battle of the quids.  I was second on the day but knowing my luck Leo would be paying top 1 only.

The scores on the doors were as follows. Well done to those who stuck it out scratching for bits on a very hot and sultry day. Nic got third from end peg and that meant Mark had the section. With Leo taking our section from the other end peg.

 So to the winners photograph and it was nice to pick up second and second in the super pools.

Not quite a winner , but as Gordon used to say, just do your best and most of all enjoy it.  You don't want to look back and wish you had done this or that. Go when you want to go and make the most of it whilst you are there.

Sorry for the rude gesture it was in response to some unfair comment, and my Phil Lynott T shirt , Brian in the middle and Nic left.

See you next week private life allowing.