The 2013 Blogscars Or Fishing OSCARS

Is it really a year since I wrote the following.....................

Welcome to Mid Section Blues. My name is Gary , I am old, and after returning to Match Fishing - struggling to succeed.  The inspiration for this blog was to share with all those like me the frustrations of those of us brave souls; who turn out to every match pay our pools and struggle against the superstars of local match angling. 

It is hoped this blog is the catalyst/lucky charm that will - just for once - help the underdog to catch that one fish, that will give me a section win.  A man can only take 2nd or 3rd in section or one place of the money so many times!  Is it too much to ask? 

 If you are looking for a quick fix, short cut to success,or a eureka comment you wont find it here. Just the trials and tribulations of the nearly man. Read on and enjoy the struggles .........

.........................now 94 posts and 8 thousand 125 hits later

What A YEAR.  I have had highs and lows and added copious memories to the bank.  I have gone from the lows of jacking it all in and selling my kit, to gagging so much for it I could almost taste it.  I suppose its in time honoured fashion its the end of year Oscars OR Blogscars award ceremony time..  But wait, I could only do that if I fished full time; so I suppose its top three or bottom three as the moment expects.

Lets start with the lows.  Genuine friendship is a hard thing to come by.  For me especially as I am a cynical miserable distrustful ba****d; who opens his gob and speaks before thinking on way to many occasions.  This trait has ended friendships way to soon. But I am delighted to say that this year I have made some great friends.

 I hoped my friend John Dewberry retiring from the Army would not mean an end to sharing an occasional cup of tea and catching up.  But I miss the weekly trips to his office and having a brew, and discussing all things match fishing. Fact is nothing stays the same.  So it was a low point for me when JD (Yoda) retired. He is busy with retirement and Browning Match group; inevitably those happy days are gone. Not in the top three though...............

So this is my top three lows.

1. The Loss of my brother.  Not literally, thank Christ; but the realization that never again will I share the joy of fishing with him and catching Roach on a river.  Illness comes to us all I know, but I hope I die fishing, trotting for Dace on the Avon.  Its cruel when illness takes away your hobby. Miss you bruv.

                                                    2. April / May Paranoia about points not being recorded properly, a run of bad results even at banker venues like Todber, cold and damp weather broken kit and the flyer (van) breaking down.  Led to me almost walking away.

3. Four in one here (couldn't split em) Drawing the bay at Ladies Bridge, and ruining a good swim by falling down the bank knocking all my kit in and ending up with 13 red signal crays.  The three canal matches were I drew the boats and my swim was destroyed by boating idiots. Precious Championship points down the swannee!

Top three blokes of the year.

1. The Pewsey boys, couldn't separate them. Not a bad bloke or twat amongst them.

2. Mark Blake.  Organiser of a great tournament, all round good bloke, honest, forthcoming and a great angler.

3. Dave Moody despite being 60 years young, still god with the rod.  What a Waggler angler. "Muddy".


Top three superstars now and for the future.

1. James Knight.  Watched him fish Dandys Ford.  One of the best I've seen, and I have watched Ivan Marks, Kevin Ashurst, Dave Harrel,Steve Gardner and Ian Heaps.  James is a natural talent that will pick up cash for a long time to come. Nice bloke to boot.

2. Ian Spanswick.  Pewsey Canal Angler. Purple patch run this year on the canal, so definitely angler  in the "now" category he is difficult to beat on the canal very consistent. Close run thing with long time stars Mike Marsden, Simon Burden, James Carty and Chris Rushton.

3. Daryl "the Dazzler" Mayers. Golden paw in the draw bag, can draw better than Picasso. Great commercial angler.

Top Three Kit Buys.

1. DIAWA Tourny Pro X Pole.  NUFF said.

2. Rigger Canal Platform.

3. Two Drennan waggler rods (Acolyte 14 foot and 2 piece 11 foot ultralight waggler same blank)

Top Three Venues

1.

Dandy's Ford.  Sherfield English.  Beautiful venue and facilities run buy a really nice couple.

2.  Horeshoe Lake Lechlade.  The home of the Carp Society, it is a gorgeous venue and I have to say it was a pleasure for Fisherman to receive conditions normally afforded to Golfers.  

3. Orchard Lake - New Forest.  A baggers delight.

Top Three Catches

1. Although I have won matches and sections this year.  This second place in section bag of nearly 6 lb of Roach at Sutton Benger for good team points. takes first place as I really worked hard to get the best out of the swim for the team.                                    

2. Five Carp for 66 lb + in the last hour of a Viaduct match.

3. Winning my section at Radcot in the Winter League on a tough day.

Top three Fish

1. Without Fail this1 lb + Rudd

2. On a day of dry nets its fish like these.......

3.This beautiful 12 lb 2oz Mirror Carp from the pipe swim on Pewsey Lake.

Top three lucky gits of the year

1.  Dave Docs Docherty landing a fish 5 seconds away from the 15 minutes after the whistle.  Beating me by a pound in the process.

2. Haines Angling just sneaking the Angling Times bait tech against Army team.

	Weight	Pos	Sturminster	Pos	Haines Angling	Pos
Mike Poolman	20.12oz	3	40.08oz	1	23.12oz	2
Ivan Oakey	21.00	3	23.12oz	1	21.08oz	2
Dave Critcher	25.00	1	1 lb	2	14oz	3
Craig Micalef	22.14oz	2	10.03oz	3	26.12oz	1
Hayden Mayers	3.08oz	3	5 lb	2	13 lb	1
Daryl Mayers	35.06oz	1	13.04oz	2	11.06oz	3
Carl Amman	46 lb	1	1 lb Dave Burford	3	19 lb	2
Dave Docherty	9 lb	3	43 lb Chris Perry	2	56 lb	1
Total Points		17		16		15

3. Tied here between Brian Shutler, Ian Spanswick and Daryl Mayers.  Draw bag genius, end pegs or fliers more times than anyone I know.

Top three Orgasmic moments

1. Pewsey winning the Wessex Winter league.

2. Seeing Martin Aris take a quid of Paul Giddings

3. Winning my personal contest with James Hillier Browning MG (in 90 degree heat) and contributing to the Army Team win over Andover.

Top Three Miscellaneous moments

1. Second in section beating both Dave Moody (Reids Tackle) and Mike Buzzer Bernstien (Challis Tackle), both in my section. When I was a guest of Reids Tackleat the Tackle Trade Open at Viaduct.

2.Picking up near £100.00 for coming second with my mate Steve Ware in the Eastleigh pairs comp.

3. Mark Blakes May 3 Day Tourny.

Best Three Breakfast venues / Breakfasts

1. Skevys Cafe Wincombe Industrial site , draw venue for Todber matches

2. Lakeside Cafe at Witherington Farm.  Late run from Rachael and Glen.

3. Dandys Ford only just pipped by Withy.

Best Three competitions of the year

1. Mark Blakes "alternative" May 3 Day event.  Intelligently Organised to have a good spread of cash and an all round good feeling event.


2. North Wessex Winter League.  Well done to Chris Rushton and all who had a hand in this.

3. Angling Times Bait Tech Club man comp.

Top discoveries of the Year

1. That I am not a crap angler I just suffer from "Carpus non Bitus"

2. Dino Floats. Big fan.

3. Top Anglers can be beaten!!!

So to the End and ...................................

Roll on next year and trying to improve, winning  more with Pewsey; and ensuring the promotion and survival of Club fishing. 

Christmas Match Reids Tackle - Witherington Farm.

You got to be careful when you write a blog.  That's one of the things I have noticed over the past year.  There is of course the editors prerogative, and of course, it is viewed from my view point.  Those that read this blog will know that no malice or disrespect is meant.

So to the match Withy was heaving with talent and many an ego was on the line today.  Banter was high, and although the Christmas Match is supposed to be fun, I sensed some of the egos had their game face on.  Still got a kiss from Christine Moody so my day couldn't get better it was down hill all the way now.

The weather was horrendous and even taking time over breakfast did not make the weather better.  We waited for as long as we could for the no shows and late comers but in the end the draw began.  The anglers below dived into the bucket

The Army lads Si, Danny and Neil must have been on duty and never showed.  Perhaps they were put of with the weather as bad as it was.  I bet a quid with Graham Houghton, and told James where his peg was, on Cottage Lake.  Tough draw he would unfortunately have the wind square in his face on peg 8 and with Mr Etheridge and Bri Shutler etc to contend with a hard lake.

The all in was shouted at 10.15 in and I barely heard it as it hammered down.  Although I had bagged up on Barnmoor on Thursday, it was an entirely different day today.  I was on 17 opposite my Thursday peg.  My last three matches on Barnmoor have been on 17.  I decided to take the same approach with 17 as I had on Thursday with Peg 2.  The slight difference was instead of throwing in the big balls of ground bait I cupped it in at 16 meters.

Ray started well on the point peg to my left with a 4 lb Carp first chuck to the island.  So pressure on straight away; but for a long time that was it.   Blakey was scratching well (peg 3 flier as normal) and the fish were regularly going into the net, and he had the edge on us.  Eventually I got a bite and a fish at 12.30.  If it was possible the day got worse and darker still.

"Why do we do it" said Ray next to me. "I know" says I, and I know its the shortest day but I didn't think it would get this dark so early.

My mate John (Yoda) Dewberry answered Rays question for us.  Opposite corner and side to the Lake on Peg 7, he had flung the waggler right to the Lake airator and was into a monster. After a while he coaxed it in. I couldn't see it the island was in the way, but Ray said "Game Over" that's massive.

Everything was absolutely soaked through.  Must recommend at this stage Gore Tex Diawa Tournament clothing.  I was being blasted by weather in all directions but it held up.  Even the my bait shelf has a built in rain cover nothing could stop the onslaught and gradually the pinkie , maggot bread punch and ground bait was saturated.  Ray had just had a dog Roach and I was catching on the waggler but not enough to make a difference.

The all out was called and to be honest we had all had enough and wanted to get in for Tea and Christine Moody's Cake.

They weigh occurred in atrocious conditions, thought Mark Blake had our lake he had scratched a lovely weight despite the conditions.  Sure enough 16 lb + of small roach and hybrids.  Little did I know that Yoda had two lumps in his net whilst I had done my mentor on silvers; two Carp for 30 lb 2 oz was enough to take our lake.

 Pleased with my 5 lb and not last.

With 2 hours to go I thought last was certainty.  Ray weighed in the Carp and his bits the Roach was an absolute beaut.  Shame he didn't weigh it in separately it must have been close to the magic 2 lb mark. See below.

So back for Tea and Cake and get out of the weather.  Reids tackle had really pushed the boat out with the Prizes and everybody was due to get something even if they didn't weigh in.  A really nice thank you from Reids tackle to its customers.

Took a quid from Graham who didn't weigh in, and was genuinely surprised to have pipped James C and Brian S and to have  beaten some very good anglers on the day (even Gary Etheridge didn't weigh in!).  A real boost to my moral, ending the year in better shape than I started for sure.

James and Mark discuss were it all went so RIGHT!

And after much deliberation, Mayo finally announced the winners or at least the top Three.  Now I have to own up here. To be honest I was elsewhere when the top three were announced, So I may have it wrong.  Knighter was first I know that, then it was Mark Cannings I think? and my mate JD was third with his monster Carp on the waggler.

With only one match to go this Year, that being James Carty's two day' er on the Canal 28/29 Dec, I think I will take the kit home and spend some days drying it out and cleaning it up in readiness.

Merry Christmas to all.  Don't think I have met one horrible bloke, OR a bad angler all year.  Going to have to go some, practice even harder and keep trying, but I will have my day in the sun.

Finally look out for the next blog, a traditional look back and award ceremony type thing.  Who was the best?  Don't forget its my opinion and there is no intention to "dis" anybody using a younger generations vernacular.

A Bucket of Dream Bream from Barnmoor

Got up really early to day 3 am. As I am working from home for a couple of days I thought I would crack on in the hours of darkness leaving daylight hours for fishing.  Couldn't decide whether to spin for Pike and Perch on the Canal, or fish a pleasure session for Roach.

Flipped a coin and Roach won.  It wasn't the Canal though; last minute I changed my mind and went to Witherington Farm, in the hope a might snag a pound + Roach.

 The lakes were empty, I had them to my self.  I had decided to keep it simple.  Left the pole at home, grabbed some left over bait from the weekend and sat on the first peg I came to; which was peg 3 Barnmoor.

There was a match on the lake yesterday so I guessed the fish may not be interested. The peg platform was covered in soft pellet and caster.  I dug out my bait a pitiful 3/4 pint of flouro pinkie, 1/2 pint of yellow maggot; and finally 3/4 pint dead squat.

I mixed the squat into a sweet ground bait with a tin of hemp; and balled in at 20 meters.  I set up my canal waggler (Drennan Ultralite pro match 2 piece 11 foot) Diawa whisker with 2 lb maxima line.  Rooted through the waggler box and settled on an old 4 no 4 Ivan Marks Canal Dart.  Topped it all of with Kamasan B 510 size 20.

The lake was like a sheet of glass not a breath of wind.  Just a cold December day warmed gently by a watery wintry sun which struggled not to high into the sky.  Hardly surprising as we are almost at Mid-Winter solstice and the shortest day.

The waggler sailed into the air and plopped past the baited area.  Ivan would be pleased his float still had the magic.  I submerged the rod tip and drew the pinkie bait back into the baited area; which was now fizzing away as the ground bait broke up on the bottom.  As the last number 10 shot settled and the float dotted down; it popped back up in a lift and the line arced wildly left.  The clutch screamed for a split second a Carp leapt clear of the water and 1.5 lb hook length parted mid flight.

Tied a new hook length and repeated the first cast. This one resulted in a fish on the drop.  A lovely pristine 6 oz Roach, fin perfect not a scale out of place.  It glistened in the sun.  Magic just what I had come for.

 It was clear after 8 more of these which were like peas in a pod; that a change of bait might be needed to get a bigger one.  So I tried a single yellow maggot.  The response was instant a lovely Bream around 4 lb in weight very dark in colour, really thick at the shoulder an old gnarly type of fish. Back in straight away and the fish were going one a chuck now.  Skimmer after skimmer.  All of them 2 lb+.  What a day.  Only one other guy on the lake (Johnny Grey) he was catching on the pole but not regular, and in between trips to the cafe for tea, he tried the tip as well.

I wouldn't say it was boring but I was after a pound plus Roach.  So 15 skimmers and tried a change.  Back to pinkie and more small Roach and a couple of Rudd.  Couple of guys had now sat behind me and were enjoying the Roach coming out.  Prompting tales of big Roach from the Avon etc.  A switch to double pinkie saw a move back to skimmers.  The maggots were just beginning to turn on the bank and I put on a caster.

Result a jagged little fight from a "foul hooked" - in the tail Roach around 12 oz.  Didn't count though as it was lost at the net.  Mr Moody had come out from the tackle shop to watch and say hello.  He bemoaned that he had to work, and wished he was fishing or at least if he could have drawn Barnmoor in the match the day before.  He regaled the tale of yesterdays match the awful weather and Frank and Colin's success.  After watching me land a few lovely skimmers he left me alone; chuntering something about he was jealous and wished he was sat in my place.

Johnny Grey was now catching a few, big enough to need the net.  But for me it was skimmer after skimmer.  I had been feeding a nearby edge swim and decided to try it out after a swirl.  They bait had barely hit the bottom and I was back winding a Carp that didn't know it was hooked. 5 minutes of gentle coaxing saw a lovely koi like red coloured Carp which seemed asleep, slide over of the net rim.  It woke up when I lifted the net, but too late sucker your mine.  The fish was freezing cold.

Another hook required as the thrashing fish had snapped the old hook length in the net.  Back out over the original area with a final ball of ground bait and the skimmers continued.

The weather had turned colder and a little breeze was rippling the water making it difficult to distinguish the red top float. I was just about out of bait and whilst the tackle shop was only yards away.  I decided to call it a day; AND WHAT A DAY.

A lovely Rainbow entered the Lake and although there was no pot of Gold, I had a bucketful of Bream and I was happy.

Between 9 am and 2.30 pm I had had 26 skimmers of 2 lb + a Carp around 4.5 lb as well as around 6 lb of Roach and Rudd.  60 lb + my best ever mid winters day fishing trip.  Whilst I didn't get a 1 lb + Roach I was over the moon.

It is true, I had the lake virtually to myself and I wasn't using a keep net (not allowed) and some of the skimmers may have been caught 2 or 3 times after release, but nevertheless what a day.

I will be back in a few days time for the Reid's Tackle Christmas Open match.  Whats the betting, I don't draw peg 3 Barnmoor and I blank!!!

Pewsey Boat Paranoia

After a wild night of passionate sex, thought I would go home and see the wife and pick up my fishing tackle!

Just kidding wild sex to me is socks on, lights off.

In fact it was a wild night, at least weather wise.  So it was floods and blocked drains again as went North to see my mates at Pewsey club.  Leaving the garage in Tidworth after fuel and a Yorkie, I suddenly realised I didn't have my gore-tex jacket and it was gonna piss down today. Better turn around.  Trouble was because I was looking over my shoulder (back into the van) in the vain hope I had left the jacket in the van; I drifted onto the wrong side of the road.

 My reward was a beautiful light display.  Well one light really a blue flashing one.  Allo Allo Allo what have we here. Morning Officer can I help.  Yes you seem to be unsure of which side of the road to drive on, please blow into this.  Of course I was clear.

All was well and now it was too late to go back home, so onward to the draw.

Hoping for a decent draw.  Those that follow the blog will be aware of the disastrous matches I have had on the boats, with boats moving and swims ruined.  Cant draw higher than peg 5.  In fact had peg four twice in a row.

So I left it till there was only one peg in the hat.  And drew out you've guessed it Peg 4!!!!!! Give me strength.

It was the only peg on the entire stretch, that actually had two boats lashed to each other.

There was room between the boats to get a rig across, and it was a massive 12 inches deep.  Inside line of bread.  A ground bait line off the red and white band of "sunrise" to the right.

 The section I was in was a section of death.  To my left Kevin Chubb, Paul Giddings, Spanners (for once not on a end peg), Carl and James "Legend" Carty.

To mt right I had Alan, Brian Shutler, and Chris Rushton two weeks in a row he had drawn the end peg.  I would be lucky to get a fish let alone a point for my championship total.  If you recognize the names its because they feature as top three week in and week out.

 The match started and it was one a chuck for me and I quickly built up nearly a pound. Amazingly Alan to my right wasn't catching and that great canal angler wasn't catching either.  In fact I had six fish in the net before Kev had his first bite.  Now I am susceptible to a little bit of Paranoia, but I reckon I have wronged someone in a previous life.  Just as I was flying you've guessed it

"Morning!  says the boat owner as he starts his engine.  I say starts. It struggled to spark so he added a little diesel to the primer and the canal.  So I had a lovely slick across the canal coupled with the lovely smell of diesel!  Then for good measure he started up churned the swim for a while before chugging off toward Marlborough.

I know you think I make this up, that nobody can be that unlucky to draw the same area three times and get a boat destroy the swim 3 times but its true.  Just ask the anglers around me, they probably stopped pissing themselves laughing by now.

So that was it for the rest of the match the fish moved right to Alan, and left to Kevin.  I had one more fish.

The day grew dark I got soaked through (without my coat) and the midwinter light levels made it difficult to see in the last  minutes.  We all packed away and headed back to the car park. Best I could hope for was to be near the mystery weight and win the bottle of Port.

Difficult to see due to the dark and wet paper.

 End Peg Rushton has 1 lb 5.5oz

Brian Shutler 1 lb 2 oz

Alan 2 lb

Me 1 lb 2.5oz 

Kev 1 lb 7 oz

PG 2 lb 6 oz

Carl Amman 13 oz

Spanners 2lb 6 oz

James Carty 3 lb 2 oz

 The top numbers on up to Bristows bridge.  Apparently very nice up that way.  Wouldn't know cant draw that high.

Sorry I get some of these wrong it is from memory on a very wet and dark day.

Steve Hiscock 8 oz

Mick Moorhouse 1 lb 15 oz

Steve Dean 2 lb 7 oz

Mike Marsden 2 lb 12.5 oz ( pound coin from Chris Rushton)

Dave Johnson 1 lb 11.5 oz

Danny Jones 1 lb 13 oz

Simon Burden 2 lb 13 oz

Martin Aris 14 oz

Derek Hillier 1 lb 15.5 oz

So a poor 4 points for me.  Me thinks I deserve a little luck.  Thank Christ the two day comp at the end of the month is not on the boats.

Well done to Steve Hiscock for the mystery weight (6oz) he was closet with 8 oz.

Steve Dean picks up a brown packet for section by default.

Probably the most important tussle of the day and Chris is reluctant in handing over the quid in his personal battle with Mike Marsden.

Trust me that hurt.

So Top three

James Carty 3 lb 2 oz

Simon Burden 2 lb 13 oz

Mike Marsden 2 lb 12.5 oz

A tight old day.  If only's don't come into it, I know, but after pound in the first hour i could have challenged if not for moving boats.  Still we could all say that.

Withy for the Reids Christmas open on Saturday.  Fancy a waggler on Barnmoor see you there.

Pewsey - Lake Match another pound bites the dust

Not many weekends to go this year.  The wife sleepily asked me to stay in bed and not go fishing; and got the hump when I said no.  Even a cup of tea delivered to the bedroom didn't seem to melt the ice.  Still I suppose I would get the hump if I had been rejected by a sex god!!

Jumped into the flyer turned on the Tunes and it was Madness.   No not madness to go fishing; but Madness singing "My Girls mad at me", I hoped I could go "one step beyond" and win today.  As long as its not an "Embarrassment"

The weak December sunshine crept over the horizon to greet a motley crew of smokers coughs flu like chesty coughs and all the aches and pains and groans that come with a bunch of middle aged men. Spanners looked rough with flu, but as we has challenged each other by text to go a pound he had turned up.  Funny how the pound side bets mean more than winning, championship points or anything else.

The tap water clear pond was grumbled over as people looked forward to a day scratching.  I was first to arrive and found a beautiful Heron stood on Peg 1 with a tiny Roach across its beak.  Expectation can vary and I hoped the gloomy outlook would be overshadowed and actually we would all catch and enjoy the day.

I asked the Heron if I could have the Roach just in case; and if not, could he tell me what bait he used!  Instead the grey old fella took to the air and lumbered horizon-ward toward the morning sun.

Finally Jim had had his roll up and we started the 9 o'Clock draw.  Chris and Spanners drew End Pegs 5 and 15 respectively.  How do they do it. I had 9 for a change with Steve Hiscock to my left.

The Russian Trawler Brian Shutler was to my right, coming off the back of two pick ups in the last two matches.  Brian is a good angler and deserves what he gets.  Doesn't matter what peg you draw you still got to catch em, and he does.

 Ten o Clock saw me not ready. A hasty cast whilst plumbing my waggler had put it in a tree opposite, tackling up again put me behind.  So it was  minutes in before I was dropping the rig over my ground bait line.  I had baited three swims, ground bait and squat, hemp and choppy and bread line.

I had  fish in the net before Brian had his first but it was a better stamp.  Brian mentioned something about being battered on both sides as Simon on his right was putting bites together.

 Simon Burden concentrating hard.  The match progressed slowly and everyone tried to scratch out a fish here and fish there.  Brian has just landed (yes landed using his net!) a nice perch, and that means he has probably over taken me.  Head down I plough on trying waggler and pole, not wanting to to try the feeder.  Bread had not got any of the expected bites.  Frustratingly the leaves and twigs pester my swim; and a little raft of leaves keeps moving back and forth over baited area.

I keep at it and by the end I think I have maybe a  pound and quarter.  Brian looks confident for two pound, especially with the Perch. Rumour has it old "end peg" had made the most of the tiddlers with his whip no doubt.  Sounded as if he had me - dammit another pound bites the dust, I already owe Si Irwin a quid.

Lifted my net out to see what I had.  My heart wished for 2.5 lb but it was more like 1 lb .12 oz.

I bet Chris on the other end peg has a carp, and Simon is bound to be challenging.  Chris comes along and asks what I have .  I reply 5 oz. You always say that you lying b*****d.

The scores are totted up:

End Peg Spanners takes first place the section and the silvers pool .  The Russian Trawler "Shutler" did just pip me with that Perch for second place and his section.  Yours truly is 3rd for the second Sunday in a row.  So its another days free fishing and 7 section points toward the Championship attempt.

Fair play to Spanners 75 fish for 3 lb on a tough day.  So I give him the "bird" and his pound coin.

Top three Me, Spanners and the Russian Trawler.

See you next week at Pewsey Wharf for the next round of the Championship.

Army Group 2 Christmas Fur and Feather

Day off today to fish the Army Fur and Feather at Witherington Farm.  Past years have seen us break 4 inches of ice and white stuff (snow not Peruvian Marching powder)  to fish the F and F, but not this year.

Just a grey December morning.  The IPOD was shuffling through the songs and rather poignantly that goddess Stevie Nicks sang soulfully about the trials of a Soldiers wife. Quickly followed by the "Young Rebel Set" singing about a soldier going of to war and Jumping into "the Lions Mouth".  Spookily this was followed by Miss Nicks again doing "Edge of Seventeen".

 It made me think of the Army Families this Christmas, young lads some only teenagers who will never come home or see another Christmas.

 Rather than focusing on the negative (cold miserable day on a commercial) it gave me a determination to enjoy the day with my Army colleagues; and be bloody grateful for the opportunity to share some happy moments with the these great lads.  After all it could be mine, and hopefully not their last Christmas.

The excellent Rachel and Glenn were churning out the Breakfasts and the Moody Clan were manning one of the best tackle shops around. Advice was being sought (from Dave Moody) even from the better anglers, which meant the Snake must be fishing tough.

I wolfed down my Breakfast and chatted to John Goddard amongst others.

 Our Chairman and all round good bloke Kev East, brought some order to the proceedings and did the match brief and started the draw.

A section was on the inner Snake, B section the flying pegs (permanent pegs in the 40's and 50's) and C section was Cyanide stretch.  An unfair name I have always thought there can be some good winter pegs, particular in the middle of the stretch.  Summertime they move to the ends more.  I sat and waited for the draw to near the end and see what was left.

I drew C section much to the delight of the people who wanted me to blank.  Turns out it was perm peg 18 not a bad peg. See below.

I decide to fish bread punch in the clearing water to my left squat across with maggot on the hook across to the corner.  If things got tough I would try the feeder across to the bridge, and possibly toward the end some soft pellet down the edge.  I had some good anglers in my section such as Mike Poolman, Si Irwin, Danny Jones, and Chris Perry.  So it would be hard to pick up today.  It would all be about where the Carp had shoaled up.  They shoal tight in winter.

The match started well, 6 oz Crucian first drop across followed by 4 Roach.  Then nothing for an hour.  Still no worries nobody I could see was catching, Si (Perm Peg 25 I think)was quite and out of view, but I figured the way Danny was looking to his left Si must be catching.  He would be determined not to lose 3 pound coins in a row.  Sorry 2, he had to pull out of the last match.

Mike Poolman got up for his customary walk around to warm and stretch a damaged spine.  He mentioned that the guys to his right were catching Carp and he had had one.  My heart sank. They will be packed tight and unlikely to come my way.  All I could do was try and beat the guys around me.  I could see Danny was catching a few but a couple of the new guys either side of me had not had much.

I really tried hard to catch, working hard making small incremental changes to my rigs, moving shot around coming of the bottom etc, going back on the bottom.  Punch had provided a bite less hour so I baited a new swim with a small amount of ground bait and a small tin of hemp.

Fishing two red squat on a 22 or a single pinkie. It was tough but I scratched out a weight.  The most fruitful bait was a pinkie cut down to about 2 mill fished over neat hemp area.  I would catch a few and then they would back off.  So I would move over the little ground baited area and catch a few more then move back when that dried up.  With five minutes to go Paul Lilley on my right who had fished the bomb all day caught a Carp.  We exchanged pleasantries, and I bemoaned the fact that I had grafted and he would probably beat me with one Fish!

My Bag. 43 fish.

The weigh in happened quickly,

 and the section sheets are below.

"A" section. Inner Snake

The Green biro makes it difficult to see, but clearly a few Carp Caught.  Browning's Mick Craddock takes the section with Pewseys Brian Shutler taking second.

B section the Fliers ( pegs in the 40s)

 Graham takes a quid of me. Kev East wins again with Neil Gaff pipping JD (Yoda - surprisingly he didn't try the Jedi Mind games on me today) out of the money for a change.

C Section cyanide stretch so called. (Perm pegs 8 through 27)

 Si takes his quid ( shit I haven't got it , will have to offer double or quits on the next Pewsey match). Managed to pip Mike Poolman and Danny, and Paul despite his Carp. Its MIDSECTIONBLUES AGAIN. CP has a creditable 3 kilo.  But its Glen, Gav and Si Ogden fishing in the tightly shoaled carp pegs who take the cash in our section.

 Gav with his 11 kilo Danny and Si stand by and admire. Well I think they are admiring, Danny looks a little too aroused!

 Si Ogden with his 23 Kilo.  50 pound plus on a Winters day, you think he would look happy wouldn't you?

 So its all back to the Cafe' for Chicken soup and a roll; and the results of this fun match.

Soup digested the results are given out .  Everyone gets a prize, which is good.  I have enjoyed the day with a good turn out of 33 anglers, its been a success I think.

Well done to top three. Kev East, Si Ogden and Graham Houghton.  Double red maggot or "dead maggot over micros appeared to be the winning combination.  So much for punch.

Back on the Pewsey Championship hunt this weekend, Merry Christmas to all serving Military and their families around the world.

Andover Charlies Lake Open.

Slate grey December skies greeted me as I headed east toward what should have been the morning sun.  Odd to be heading east to go fishing.  Last time I went Andover way was when my brother lived in Charlton on the edge of Andover in the early 90's.  Foxcotte and King Arthurs lakes (now Anton Lakes Nature reserve) were our choice then.

Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac blasted from the speakers and I hummed along to "Black Magic Woman" and "the Supernatural" toe tapping stuff. My brothers place looked over some watercress beds and just before he moved house; this was converted to a lake called Peril lake.  These days the lake is called Charlies; and I was sad to be pulling up to fish there without my brother.

The place has changed a little from my memory, with platforms now in place, an otter electric fence,  and the trees have grown considerably.  There is now a cafe and it was here where we had a little breakfast whilst we waited for the expected ten anglers to arrive.  Si and I had a side bet of a pound.

 Two of the Pewsey lads and one local, couldn't make it so we decided just to crack on.  As day light filtered through I kicked myself for not bringing bread.  The clearing water screamed a bread punch attack.  We drew; and once again Brian Shutler drew an end peg the favored peg 33."I'm gonna nic name you the flyer" I said "you never draw badly!".

Second favorite 32 was next and I found myself at the far end away from the favoured pegs but an end peg at least.

The lads lined up for start and the horses in the stables behind us,  neighed the "all in" at 10.30.  With Danny to my right and Si next to him it looked like a tough task to frame today.  Pete White a fellow Pewsey stalwart was next then a couple of local Andover lads.  The water was really clear and I was mad that I had left bread at home.  I went on the tip to start, to let the cupped in ground bait time to settle.

One tiny roach in the first half an hour.  Si and Danny were catching on the Waggler.  So I came in over a slightly deeper area (about 6.5 feet) and started fishing the pole.  I had fed two lines one ground bait and pinkie, and one caster over hemp and chopped worm.

One o'clock came and I started to get a few small roach.  A few over ground bait, and then nothing so across to the hemp line for a few more before that died. The keep net was getting a bashing from a 9 lb Pike, which was ramming the tiny silvers he could see.

Bigger fish were there, every know and then I would foul hook a lazy torpid old carp that would just cruise slowly away, not realising it was hooked.  In one instance I had a scale so big on the hook I could have weighed it in at a silver fish.  The Pike was now bothering both Danny and my swims.

Suddenly the elastic was stretching away, and at last I had a decent fish, not a carp but a lovely slab of a Bream around 3 lb.

 Si had just had a phone call, his little boy had fallen over and been taken to casualty.  He quickly packed away his kit under a barrage of comments of how he had lost his bottle and was on the run, worried that Gary was going to take a quid of him for the second match in a row.

I would have to be on the Columbian dancing dust, if I thought I was in good shape to win; but the guys were struggling and my slab, had me well in front with two hours to go.  Time dragged as I pulled together a few more bits in between the Pike feeding, with every know and then the elastic stretching away as the Pike took fish and hook length.

With an hour to go Brian on the flyer and the guy next to him (Martin Buckley) started to catch both having a carp.  With half an hour to go Brian had a good slab too, and Martin a skimmer of around 1 lb.  With Si gone Danny called the all out in the fading winter light, and I helped do the weigh in.

I thought I had around 5 lb with the slab making up 3 of that. Net below.

Brian finished top of the pops with 16 lb, 13 and half ounces.  So he takes the money for first and the silvers pot as well; from the flying peg.

I picked up for third which meant a free days fishing.  Glad I went, shame about the low turnout, but it was good fun on a cold day.  The weights went as expected and the further left you went of the flyer the smaller the weight except my net; which was boosted by the slab.

Army Fur and Feather Christmas match on Wednesday lets hope the snake lake at Withy has not got its Scrooge coat on.  See you there.

		Carp	Silver	Total
1	Brian Shutler	1.12	15.1.5	16.13.5
2	Martin Buckley	4.4.5	5.5	9.9.5
3	Gary Williams		5.5	5.5
4	Pete White		5.4	5.4
5	Chris Mayne		2.2	2.2
6	Danny Jones		1.6	1.6
7	Si Iwin			DN Weigh
8	Nick Farmer			DN FISH
9	Steve Hiscock			DN FISH
10	Chris Rushton			DN FISH