Si Irwins Canal May Day Open match

Fishing again two days running. Love it.  The excellent Si Irwin is now the Open Match Secretary for Pewsey and boy is he doing a good job.  Feeling good after Pewseys win at Andover yesterday.  Nice to put a marker down with local clubs and let them know Pewsey is back on the Match scene.  Having scratched 17 small fish yesterday I was hoping for more regular bites on the Canal.  There were some raised eyebrows though as Si had put in stretches of the canal that are not popular on match days. They are OK for pleasure fishing but put 20+ on the bank and you can struggle. Still the IPOD pumped and U2 sang its a "Beautiful day" which summed up my feelings as I arrived at the bank side.

Fair play to Si though, as its not so long ago, "Opens" were not even happening.  Sign of the success Pewsey is having and the hard work of all members that the popularity of the club continues to rise.  The sun is shining and another warm spring day brings promise of a warm summer ahead.  Sad point in that Spanners is absent.  Unfortunately the loss of his Nan yesterday demanded quite rightly that he remain with family today. Condolences mate.

Its all in the draw they say and just lately I have been waiting to see whats left in the bucket and taking it with some success. We gathered at Wilcot Rd below

The 20 + anglers dived in after the match brief and I let the superstars who had come from far and wide fill their boots.  Two tickets left and Si picked em both out. Up to you mate I said and he gave me an end peg and growled with despair.  That's as good as it got though we all struggled.  Just like last year the canal seems to be going through spring time blues and struggling to recover from the hammering its had as a result of the huge Kayaking competition recently.  Still a little warm weather and get spawning out of the way and it will be fine.

So the match, tried my heart out but had two bites two fish for two ounces.  The pleasing thing for me(every cloud...) was so did everyone else and some of the best canal anglers around and certainly some that had travelled from far and wide also struggled.

A section Bowdens bridge toward iron bridge.  Mixture of dry nets and the top three in the match.

B Section Iron bridge.  Including me on end peg. Midsection blues with 7th from 13. never mind.

As I said its all in the draw  - remember Si growling at giving on giving me an end peg. Yet fate gave him the winner.  Justice I say, nice when you put the effort into organise its nice to get something out of it. Well done mate.

Andover host Pewsey - Foxcotte Challenge

The last time I fished Foxcotte in anger was 1984 I was 20 and as you can see had a full head of curly hair a huge fan of Whitesnake and could catch a few Crucians and Tench as the pic shows.  I had just got rid of my wicker basket and bought a new Drennan plastic blue tackle box and a just bought my 3rd swing tip rod.  Which seemed an extravagance because why would you need more than 1 float rod and 1 feeder rod?  Andover was going through a period of flux and losing members to the newly formed and sponsored Grolsch team.  Downton were the local Team to beat and Pewsey was drawing in anglers from far and wide.  So it was with fond memories and some sadness that my brother and fishing buddy from them good old days was not with me as I drove east and Foxcotte bound.

Before I go much further I finished last week by wondering if my win and going top of the league after two matches was enough to retain the reading following of my beautiful stalker Mrs Christine Moody?  Well I needn't have worried a trip to the tackle shop today not only resulted in collecting my quality bait for todays match and tomorrow's (Si Irwins open on the canal); but a hug, peck on the cheek and a little gift from Christine please note the lovely chocolate egg below.

Thanks Chris xxx

So we all met at the car park for the draw.  I was to meet Gerry Blunt and or Les Thirlaway. Gerry I know well from Army fishing and Les, well as said earlier long time since I had seen him god knows I have not aged well so don't know about Les.  We agreed that the match would be on total team weight with normal pools for places.  

Foxcotte had changed.  For one thing it was full of water in the 80's it wasn't unusual to be sat 10 feet from the bank on gravel and fishing 2 foot of water instead of the 6 or 7 you should be.  Luckily these days the sluice fed pond is full.  Not so lucky is a lot of the pegs are almost un-fishable due to dense weed in the crystal clear water.

Taken from out going sluice bridge car park end, Peg one to the left and 45 to the right.  The first thing to greet me was the lads showing me some video footage of a dog Otter and its cubs frolicking away between Peg 1 and 45.  Pity the poor sod who draws either of those pegs!! Well 45 was left out.

I managed to draw peg 44, much to the laughter of the locals (completely the wrong end of the lake, and complete with Otter). Apparently its good later in the year when it colours up, but today I could see the bottom at 12 meters at 7 foot deep!!!  In fact if you look in the photo above that's gravel you see at the bottom of the pic at 5 foot deep.  The deal was 3 sections and pay top 3.  As Andover only had 7 men , it would be our best 7 weights from 11.

It was clear from the start that the gin clear water meant the fish were spooked by the pole above their heads.  Bit like Horshoe lake last year a waggler approach was the way forward.  There was a hell of a tow from right to left as the water rushed toward the out fall.  However I persevered pinging a few pinkie as maggot had not touched em.  16 Mtrs of pole was ok but it cast a shadow and to be honest the bottom was covered in weed so anything I put in just sank into it in seconds.

It was strange like fishing in a goldfish bowl or bathwater.  Despite the clear water the one thing I couldn't see was fish.  It was devoid of them. Don't think the Otter family helped.

I could see Brian Shutler on the Bungalow bank and he was hitting into some big bream and skimmers on the waggler.  He was feeding with his pole at full 16 and then fishing over the weed of the bottom.  So I tried the the same with no joy.  The match was half way through before I had any indication of a bite.  So I decided to see if I could just be the guys around me.  Les Thirlaway was two to my right and Steve Trevett on my right with derek Hillier of Pewsey on my left.

3 Hours in and I noted a flash at about 6 mtrs on my short line, so I dropped the punch over the flash and hooked a tiny roach.  From nowhere Pike and then the elastic was ripping out as it took of with my fish.  Marvellous. Steve Trevett had had a roach and perch about 2 ounces each and Les had a couple of tiny fish.  Finally with an hour to go I worked it. Half a pinkie on a size 24, with 0.6 or 12 oz line and 2 elastic.  Ended up on the whistle with 17 fish for 14 oz; and the 7th best weight for Pewsey on the day.

So back to the car park for the results. I had managed to beat Steve Trevett , Les Thirlaway and Derek so all all the blokes around me but to no avail me thinks.

So Andover totted up their 7 weights and that came to 14 lb 3 oz.  Our best 7 me being the 7th, came to 40 lb 12 oz.  A stonking win, well done lads. Even if you took Brian Shutlers (Bream shoal) off the total we would have still won with 16lb +

Bonus, because the top three weights came in my section my 14 oz wasn't to no avail after all, i picked up cash for quadruple default section win - get in.

So local bragging rights to Pewsey and we await the return challenge match on the canal next month.  Only fly in the ointment was seeing Spanners hand over a third quid in a row to Chris.  With the summer league not far away I am not sure if I should be pleased at Chris Rushtons good form or Ian Spanners Spanswicks below par form?

Still back on the Canal tomorrow for a Bank Holiday Open against the top local talent.

Pewsey Canal kicks off

Belting along in the flyer, Roger Daltrey screaming Baba O'Reilly in my ear. Trying to windmill my air guitar like Pete Townshend, but there isn't a great deal of room in the van cab. So I flip to beating the steering wheel like Keith Moon on a bad day.

Tea and Toast sitting heavy as I had ate in hurry to get to the early draw.  Good idea having the early draws, it gets you fishing before the boats and people get going.  That we you can getting a few fish in the net early doors always good on the canal. Early finish too, keeps the wives club happy. Everyone is a winner.

Before we start, I have had a message from my stalker Christine Moody.  Her hubby the ever miserable Dave Moody tells me Christine is going to stop following the blog unless I buck up and produce better results.  No pressure then.

Draw Bag.  That's what we should call Spanners, he must have sold his soul to the Devil.  Leo had put the turning bay in for the first time in years. Who should draw the end peg (again) and the bay but yours truly. He's the handsome soul below grinning ear to ear below.

Steve Dean (foreground) had the other half of the Bay and I was 30 yards away.  Still I was glad to be in the high numbers.  I hope the new Championship (Canal match 1) is a sign of good or better draws to come.  Now lets catch some fish.

Starting with a plan.  Bread line 3 mtr whip close in pinkie across and squat against the boat. Leo shouts the all in and i swing out the punch on the whip.  As the bread hits bottom the float slides away and a 2 oz roach swings toward me. Quick unhook and back in. Nothing for 5 minutes. Change to pinkie again the float slides away and a lovely "Tommy Ruffe" graces my hand.  In fact I going make a claim for the club canal record me thinks.

Another ten bite less minutes, and I was just thinking it was slow.  Back on the punch and a twitch, dip and slide away. Oops this is better.  Trouble is on a flick tip you just gotta hang on! So for a couple of minutes I did as the hybrid Bream Roach ripped up my inside line. Eventually I slipped the net under it and was glad to see it drop in the keep net.

Boat comes through so with the inside line trashed I have to o across on the squat.  The canal is shallow on the boat section so the silt is really taking awhile to settle.  The rain is really hammering it down and there hasn't been a bite for over an hour. People are starting to walk the bank to keep warm and to see whats being caught.  Rumour has the low pegs are struggling.  Now if quality Canal anglers like Leo, Si Burden, Kev Chubb, Danny , Chris and Si Irwin are struggling then it must be bad.  I don't get it along the entire stretch not one person is catching.  Water temperature is dropping as the cold rain pounds in. Fish are rolling and topping everywhere but not biting.  I venture the theory that they might be starting to spawn.

Steve Dean, agrees with my theory and suggests that my hybrid must be the only gay fish in the canal, as at least it was feeding.  Si Irwin has had enough and in a break in the rain packs up and leaves early as does Chas Short .  Steve Dean still hasn't had a bite and Spanners has had just a TINY Perch.

The all out is called and not a moment too soon. Spanners weighs in his 1 oz Perch. Steve DNW.  Me well, my Ruffe was exactly an ounce and I will be applying for the record! A 2 oz roach is added to my 13 oz Hybrid for exactly a pound. Tales of woe and incredible sights like Kev Chubb blanking meets us we trudge back, in another torrential downpour.

So to the scores on the doors.

So I've won what a lovely feeling to win a canal match. Its not the money it is the 15 points genuinely it is, oh and the fact that Christine Moody will still read my blog. Lol.

So to the pictures.  Well done to Chris Rushton he was more pleased with his pound bet win with Spanners than taking joint third with Danny Jones.

Now for some brilliant news the ever improving Martin Aris takes second place and was well chuffed with his super pools and second place brown envelope.

Chris Glover picks up section by default in his first Pewsey match, welcome and well done.  Leo and Brian lose out by half an ounce to Si Burden who takes his section by default.

So to the winners. Not sure what prize Danny is giving to Martin but he seems pleased!!

Off to Andover next week for a challenge match against them on Foxcotte Lake. Followed by an open on the canal for Monday (Bank Holiday) - see you there.  Nice feeling to be top of the league I will cherish it.

Irwins Open - Selwood damp squib

You can't blame the boy but Si Irwin (below) had arranged a friendly open match on Selwood at Withy Farm. It was designed to introduce some of the Pewsey lads to commercial fishing as most of the Pewsey matches are on natural water.

Unfortunately it was the bank holiday Monday and over the previous two weekends and the holiday week leading up to the bank holiday the venue had been hammered.  Top this with a prolonged spring like spell and the fish were only interested in getting ready to spawn.  The skimmers were covered in tube and the Carp were just circulating around in groups on the surface.

I would love to tell you it was great; but wasn't in fact I recorded my lowest ever weight on Selwood.  The banter was fantastic and there were unusual occurrences like Pete losing his top kit to a Carp.  Chris Rushton playing a Carp for 45 minutes before finally losing out.  Probably the most unusual occurrence of all Mike Marsden on a Commercial!!!! see below:

Some things never change Spanners had drawn the flier, with PG next to him and Daz "dazzler" Mayers the other side.  So you just know where the money was going.

As time approached there were a couple of people including Mr Rushton who had started to catch. Si offered the 14 strong contingent an extra 30 minutes as it had been so dire. I abstained as for once I was in front of Bri Shutler. The majority said yes and during the new last 30 minutes Bri sacked up and overtook me!

The only thing I caught was the sun red as a beetroot.

So some photo's to finish.

Engineer Cadet afloat Pete White

Captain Pug wash takes on Masterbates to hunt for the top kit being dragged around by the Carp.

Third place + Silvers to Paul Giddings of peg 16

Second place to Dazzler Mayers (venue expert)

Scores on the doors

Finally you know who takes it well done Spanners winner again.

Army Artillery - Fire and Forget

Short blog today.  Invited along to join the Artillery fishing club at Witherington Farm.  We were fishing the Snake , but sadly only 5 had turned up; and that included me!!

We fished along the top bank.  To spice it up Gav put six pegs in and this meant, there was a gap. Brian Shutler benefited from the extra space....

Me I was in the middle of the stretch.  From the start I struggled to fish the full 16 mtrs, and actually there was no shelf and no benefit fishing at  4 feet. Did try up in the water and managed to bag three Carp and lose a double figure carp hooked in the tail.

For most of the day a picked of skimmers and roach , all of which were like sand paper to touch and covered in barnacles.

Looking down the bank it was clear that I was falling behind have way through the match so I decided just to enjoy it as the two end pegs Bri, and Danny by the bridge were both bagging.

The all out came and I was last of the five.  If there was a silver fish pool I would have taken it.  But no joy,
6 Carp for 16.8 lb, and 19.8 lb silvers.

 Danny had been fishing paste and meat down the edge with success so much so that he decided to put the  few silvers he had net as he only had two nets.

So coming back down the line Danny won with 72, Bri second with 62.6, Docs next with 59 lb then Gav with 49.7 lb. Then me with 36 lb. Nowhere near enough Carp to compete.

Never mind Easter Monday to come and a match on Selwood again at Withy , this time with the Pewsey Boys.

Army Todber in the Spring

5AM saw me walking the dogs in the light of a Hunters Moon, the dawn chorus calling the morning sun forward into the new day. The Partridge were scattered by the dogs as they scrunched their way through the frosty grass.  Back home for a cup of tea and a custard cream, let the chickens out and feed them; load the Flyer and head of for a proper mans breakfast at Skevys Cafe in Shaftesbury.

6.10 and over beacon hill and westward. The moon was winking a final goodnight to its polar opposite the sun which was rising in the east in my rear view mirror.

Good turn out today 40+, Todber is a popular venue and rightly so.  It hails the start of our run of commercial venues and reasonable bags of fish, instead of scratching with squat and thin lines, we can use tow ropes and hollo elastic and hooks bigger than a 20.

 The breakfast beat me I couldn't manage it and that set the tone for the day really. Whilst I did draw White posts for the first time, I drew the bottom lake that was as good as it got.  Whilst I was busy for the almost all of the 6 hours match ( did have a quite hour in the middle). My tactics of fishing banded four mill pellet 10 inches deep of the lily pad at 16 mtrs. Was not entirely successful.  I did catch but only pasty size fish, skimmers and Rudd and Roach.  Sprinkling in the micro had the fish swirling but no decent fish.  Couple of big-uns were hooked but they ploughed straight into the lilies and the red 11 hollo elastic was not man enough.

A strong cross wind was making fishing long difficult so I came over my 6 mtr track swim. Two more roach 1 6 oz Tench meant and no carp for 30 minutes forced me to re think.  Ivan to my left had been fishing down the edge for an hour.  I thought he had gone to the edge too early, but it was paying dividends and he was getting one a chuck.

I decided to try my edge swims I had been feeding i started catching straight away with a piece of worm, but it was a 2 lb Perch.  More Roach followed so I swapped from worm to 4 mill Bacon grill. Then I started to catch slightly bigger. Ivan was probably 20 fish in front of me and had me beat.  I did enjoy seeing him foul hook an eel in the tail on sweetcorn! The eel was a good 4 lb and he struggled manfully to get the thing in the net for 5 minutes before it broke him and trashed his rig.  I decided to up the feed rate to catch him , but he said it would kill it and it did - know it all.

The weigh in begins and we have had a mixed day

My section first A section White posts.  I have had a lovely days fishing but nearly 29 kilo or 63.8 lb has me 8th in a 15 man section so midsectionblues.

B section next and down to Park lake

Mick Craddock supreme here. With Pewsey and Artillery angler Danny Jones third behind Kev East.

Finally, C section

My mate John Dewberry just scrapes it against fellow Pewsey and Artillery angler Bri Shutler. Dave Hydes bringing a close 3 rd.

So my weight was creditable weight over all in the match, but the best weights came from my section.  Top three 

Chris Perry 54.38 kilo

Ivan Oakey 48.96 kilo

Mike Poolman 46.5 kilo.

Well done to them. Saturday at Withy for an Artillery invitational

Pewsey Lake Championship round 1 Marathon Day

As I sit to type this I reflect on a Marathon day in more ways than one.  Just like the London Marathon, we had a variety of talent on show and just like the London race all ages. Not going to say who was our oldest runner but it was a tightly fought contest between, Jimmy, Roly and a couple of others.  Our youngest newest member on the match scene is none other than 10 year old Sophie Spanswick daughter of last years Club Champion Ian.

As I said long day up at four to nurse one of my dogs who is poorly. So by the time I got on the road the sun was already climbing into a bright blue sky; also in that sky was a wondrous aerial display from a Red Kite which in between its graceful swoops, was being mobbed by crows and ravens. Equally wondrous was the volume and variety of ground-based wildlife.  Roe deer, Muntjac, Pheasant Partridge , Hare, and Rabbit.  Fisherman are lucky to witness this dawn display.

As I am running this years Lake series a few rule changes on timings etc meant an earlier draw and a variety of prizes including a Golden peg prize.  Almost all seemed pleased with the new set up although there was a few gripes about the earlier start. We had a full house and in fact had to turn a few late bookers away. Shame but thats it.

Young Sophie drew the Golden Peg which was one of the fliers - 15. She's obviously got her old mans skill of drawing of pat already.  Once back in the bag I asked her to draw her peg for the day.  She looked at her dad and he said draw peg 12.  So she did!! Definitely a Daddies girl. Everyone then got stuck into the draw bag and there were various moans and sharp intakes of breath at what was drawn whilst I filled out the board. Last but one to draw I picked out the golden peg 15. See Above Pic.

On the peg next to me was the mighty Gary Perryman. Who ten minutes in had landed his bunch of worms on the nose of a 11 pound Carp. I knew it was big but Gary's huge hands made it look small. He then sat set out his stall for a net full of Carp. Below

  

Being on the end and at the windward end of the Lake I was in a dilemma. I had not expected to draw well and my plan I had in my head was now blown.

I really should go for the Carp I was already at least double figures behind and only ten minutes had passed.  The reeds across the lake were full of Carp crashing around and generally having a ball.

Initial attempts to get close with the Pellet waggler were unsuccessful as I was constantly being pulled away by a strong north easterly crosswind. So I quick change to the method and meat on the hook produced a couple of liners, but nothing concrete.  Gary and Jim continued to lob there huge ground bait feeders with worm on the hook.  Gary has just had another, he was only reeling in and he didn't even know he had it on. Typical.  To follow that JB has just had a decent lump too.

Sophie was going well with her dad sat behind her.  She didn't need his coaching tips she was bagging the small stuff and going great guns.  Brian Shutler was starting to walk the bank.  He had hooked a common Carp around 6 lb before the match had even started, and was now being teased that he should go back to using a bare hook and plumbing up he might catch another.

Me, well every bit of surface detritus on the lake was gathering in front of me and I was getting scummed out barely able to present a bait.

It was impossible trying to catch silvers , and I needed weight.  So I stuck at the Carp.  The method wasn't working, so I switched to copy Gary and Jim, by using a groundbait feeder.  I had no worms with me (school boy error) so a big bunch of maggots was the bait of choice.  It did result in two carp about a pound and 3 quarters each maybe two pound.  But whilst the bulrushes shook and the Carp crashed on the surface all around, I have a feeling their minds were on spawning not feeding.

The six hours were soon up. I was sad to here Kirsty had gone home early with stomach pains, even more concerned to hear on getting home she had collapsed and been taken to hospital! Get well soon Kirsty.

Various stories of woe were already been aired, the normal the ones that got away to the didn't get a bite all day mate. But in short the Marathon Day was drawing to a close.  The scores were totted up and the Prizes given.  A special well done to Sophie.  Chris Rushton had gone a quid with her in the absence of her dad.  He will do anything to get a pound.  Shame on him lol. Shes a 10 year old girl, but when you look at the sheet you will see she ran him close. In fact she did him on Silvers and it was only a Carp that gave him two ounces more  - so close unlucky Sophie.

Sophie takes her prize(From Vice Chair Jim Broomham) for best Junior on the day whilst her dad looks on proudly.

Neil Pegrum had taken the other section with a nice bag of silvers including a daddy Chubb, plus two Carp including a lovely mahogany common.

Simon Burden was second in this section with a Carp and and good bag of silvers on peg 1.

So Neil (left) wins, Gary(at the back) second, Jim third and Brian Shutler takes the silvers pool, matching my 6 lb 13 oz.

Scores on the doors.