Celebrate good Times C'mon

Bit of Kool and the Gang on the way to the pub last night for the Pewsey Annual General Meeting to close the 2016/2017. Appropriate really as it was nice to celebrate and smile.

So that’s it then.  I stood down last night, from the Pewsey Committee and my role as Secretary.  

Those who know me will know I can be a bit emotional, and where my heart on my sleeve so bear with me while I do the emotional thank you speeches.

Seriously they say you can count your friends on one hand.  Well for me that is quite difficult as my northern pals / twats would say (being a Wiltshire man) my digits count as one as they are webbed! That said I have to thank a few.  First my long standing friend Brian Shutler.  I hope to continue our battles over the coming years, you are not “Lucky Bri” you are skillful Bri a top angler, and whilst I draw breath I hope you will remain my friend.  

Now to a few others.

Leo Pocock (Capt Slow) and Ian Spanswick (Spanners), both of whom have been unstinting in their support (re Committee business and during my mini stroke) and fantastic new friends on the bank.  The epitome of the friendly club member (s) they have become firm friends.  I admire them for staying on the committee and applaud the committee for voting them in again as Chairman and Treasurer respectively. Spanners that Merry go round pound bet, will come back my way!

Chris Rushton (My Little Pony) legend in his own bedroom, superb bloke, friendly, and a huge hit with the ladies apparently!  Mark Russ the housewife’s favourite with his cheeky grin and six pack stomach.  If there was ever a bloke you would aspire to emulate, Mark is that man.  In fact Lets mention the whole of team Russ.  Wife and daughter who do attend the weigh ins.  What smashing people.

The people I have learnt from JC James Carty “the Legend” what a nice fella squify or sober its fishing first with JC the guy is class.  

Kev “the bread” Chubb, no better bread fisherman around sponsored by Hovis , organiser of the Teams of Four a tough guy to beat in anyone’s section.  Mike Marsden , wasn’t sure about Mike in my first weeks with Pewsey, but boy has he been honest and helpful to me . Free with advice on pegs and venues new to me and generous with his compliments.  Just hope Mike sees the light as he comes out from under the shadow of Kev Rowles and Paul Passmore.

Simon Burden, (Pewsey President) the quite man. Tells you bugger all (but in a nice way) always catches on something he found in the bottom of his box (Pinocchio)  To be honest though, there is not the room to mention them all, Chas Short ,Roly Phillips,  Marc Kay, Jimmy, Will, Martin , Steve.  I hope they all stick together and keep the club going forward.

So to the meeting, not the best AGM I have attended (low turn out) and a reflection perhaps of club fishing in modern times.  That said Pewsey are still the friendly club and defy the odds in fending off the inevitable which is still years away.  Good on em I say.

The nice thing is of course the presentation.  For me personally, I ended up second in the Canal Championship, and third in the overall combined Lake and Canal Club Championship.   So that I managed a trophy in all competitions except the Lake.  Not bad at all and pretty much consistent with the last 4 years.  So here are a few photos from last night……………..

Simon(President) handing out….

Mark Russ Lake Champ.  The competition went right to the last match with only 4 points covering the top three!!

Simon , who was third on the Lake.

Following on Kev Chubb 3rd in the 2 Day Christmas match JC second and Marc Kay kindly collects the Trophy for Rob Randall (absent) as Winner.  Make sure you get it Rob!!!

 

Then of course the Club Champion for the Year Brian Shutler, just edged those odd matches here and there where it mattered, edged me on the canal , pushed em close on the lake consistency and class count in the end.  Oh and good draws.

So what for me know?  Does the blog stop, do I stop?  Well no actually.  I will still go fishing, I will still be a member of the friendly club; but there are new horizons and new challenges.  

My old friend and mentor John Dewberry and his colleague Dave George and compatriots’ have invited me to join the ranks of Browning Andover.  A challenge that I have accepted. It offers me a nice balance of enjoying my fishing with my old pals at Pewsey, yet trying new venues and competitions’ with new friends.  Plus time of to race and show my dogs.  

I am quite excited there is a buzz around the Browning boys at the moment, a hunger to fish well, but with a smile on your face no matter what.  Its bums on the bank, and have a good time.  All I have ever wanted really, and for a while at least with Pewsey that’s what we had.

It could all go badly wrong and there will always be the nay sayers, who will look for me to trip up; but to be honest I don’t care I look forward now to being a thorn in the side (some would say I have always been a prick) of the those who would discount me as they walk by my peg on the way to their flier for the day.

I raise a glass of Thatchers Vintage Cider and say good luck, stretchy elastic and full keep nets to you all.  Smile and enjoy your fishing, enjoy the moment(s) they don't last.

Back in the Bad Lands

Different sort of outing today, went along to Calne and Black lands lake.  A silvers only match arranged by Bryan Jackson.  Just the 12 of us the lake wouldn't hold more.

A lovely deep pond with other facilities, caravaning and camping and a Health club.  On a nice day it would be good , but today the wind is really strong and the trees are moving considerably.  Cold too not the hoped for mild spring day.  Nevertheless a completely new venue for me; and with ground bait banned it would take some working out.

In addition not knowing anything about the water it was going to be suck it and see . So enough of the views lets get on with the draw.

I drew the bench swim peg 2. So short walk and a quick set up found me having a uniform 7 feet at 6 meters and a bush to my left.

Clearly I had underestimated the "silvers" as almost immediately I had trashed 2 rigs and 2 whips.  From unwanted carp.  Unwanted Carp never thought I would say that!!  A quick change to the heavier elastic , I was beginning to regret not having more robust mainline and hook lengths.  I was also regretting having no worm as Bryan Jackson had just landed a a near 3 lb Perch.  Mssrs Shutler and Kay were going great guns , one a chuck.  Also using worm and caster I believe.

The fish were steady but prone to 30 minute spells with no bite.  If I fished the same again I would have more micro pellet (allowed) and definitely more caster and worm.  As it was I would plough on with maggot and expanders.  the fella to my left is whacking 1.5 lb Roach on the whip and I cannot get fish bigger than 4 oz skimmers.

A spell of 4 Crucians got the heart beating before I lost another 6 lb mirror.  Shame Crucians didn't count.  The match slipped away from me, the wind and presentation impossible .  My little Pony Chris Rushton had foul hooked a slab and was trashing rigs on debris.

Nigel Russel was helping out by hooking the same snags as Chris and pulling in Chris snag (with attached Tench)

Now thats a Snag!!

Note Ponys float still attached top center. The match came to an end at the appropriate time as I was getting bored of watching the Russian Trawler (Shutler) and Marquee (Marc Kay) hauling em in.

It was good to catch a few and I would have loved to have caught more.  The Carp were nice but didn't count and did mess up the swim a bit. But nevertheless a nice day watching the float dip.

A stack of lightweight thin skimmers that bodes well for the future of the pond.  Mr Rushton did well you can't deny. Still an end and corner peg you would have expected it.

No bonus slabs for me, I did manage to beat the fellas either side of me but all in all a learning experience.  Well done to Brian Shutler on the win, Bryan Jackson on the Organisation , Marc Kay for 2nd and Pony for third.

Sorry to Bryan his Perch pic didnt come out, but here are the scores.

See you next time

Lovely Two and half hours

 Just a quick note as the session wasn't very long but it was productive.

Today was technically a spare day.  I was gonna fish the teas of 4 for Leo, but he had a change of heart and fished so a quick walk along the bank and watching the float dip here and there made me want a bit of that.

As I had the kit in the van in case I parked up at Bristows and went the opposite way to the TO4 match and around to the wides and toward Wilcot road.

The session started well with me slipping on a muddy path and twisting my back, but never mind I was soon fishing.  The first 15 minutes was slow with me getting indications but no bite.  A slow pull under and wham , oh no its a twig.  In fact the canal was a horrible brown colour and full of detritus as boats and canoes passed up and down.

After snapping the hook trying to get it out of the twig I tackled up again with a new rig.  The rig settled nicely over one of my baited areas.  It was soon clear that pinkie over licky bread was going to produce.  So I slid in the Dino 0.3 Bream float on the top kit + 2 line and the bites were one a chuck.  Only the boats disturbed the flow of bites.

It was great to see after last week, and the bite less hours, that the mild weather had perked up the fish a bit.  I wonder how the TO4 round the corner were getting on .  The pinkie/bread line died a bit so it was over with the red squat and a nice little skimmer pulled the float confidently under. The elastic stretched pleasingly and fought nicely before the landing net slipped under and bulged like my waistline.

Shame I wasn't fishing in the match I was amassing a few fish here certainly good enough for section points.  My phone bleeped and it was the wife. The screen message was clear, where are you.

I had said I wouldn't be long just a few hours, but who leaves feeding fish?

I decided to play dumb and blame the poor phone signal in Pewsey.  The bites though were slowing down from 2 fish a minute to one fish every couple of minutes.  I was surprised when I looked at the time, I had been fishing for two hours, my how time flies when your catching.

A dog walker letting their dog swim in the canal finished the session abruptly.  Choice words were exchanged with the owner, who played dumb, their dog had never done that before they were really shocked etc etc.

So a hasty pack away two and half hours including a nice stripey.  Home to the wife a 25 minute journey to think up a creditable excuse.

Great day most caught on the 2+2 line.  The digital scales in my bag read 4 lb 2 oz, I imagine good enough for section points and after only 2.5 hours.  Wonder if the swim would have recovered after lassie had swum through?

Sorry its a short blog its hard to type when your wife has slammed your fingers in the door frame!!

See you next week if I am still able to walk.

The final countdown

First fishing trip in my new van Vicky.  Poor old Poppy died and went to the scrapyard in the sky.  Well she didn’t die I killed her.  Was out with the dogs one morning a few weeks ago and was on my way home down a narrow country lane.  There’s a guy coming the other way and he stops in the narrowest part of the lane.  I stopped at the widest point and flashed him on.  He flashes again and so it went for a minute or so.  I put the window down leaned out and gestured him one last time, at which point all the dogs thought it would be a great idea to climb over me and get out of the window.

After blocking and returning excitable hounds to the seating position I was, in a bad mood at this joker’s refusal to see sense and pass at the widest part of the road.  I slammed the van into first then second then third at which point the gear stick snapped off in my hand. Leaving me stuck in second.  I came levelish with the guy and through my open window berated him for being a knob.  Could he not see he had chosen the narrowest part of the lane.  

Submissively he put his arms up and asked me to calm down. Explaining he had run out of fuel and was stuck.  He added do you think you could back up !!!!!  “Does it look as if I can f'in back up you knob”, I said brandishing the gear stick in mid-air.  I pulled my wing mirror in and brushing his I squeezed by.  Driving the few miles home in second gear, I put the 4 way flashers on.  Only to be flashed by all and sundry, and people hollering at me, your four ways are on and can’t you go faster!!!

So to today and driving through the light snow and milky Tupperware sky, Vicky and I motored along to the Rolling Stones, Mick was in full flight “this will be the last time, this could be the last time, maybe the last time but I don’t know” Vicky was cooking and I didn’t want to get my multi-layered clad against the cold body out of her comforting womb effect.  But “let’s get it on” said Marvin Gaye and I climbed out and unloaded multiple tackle.  As said before you need to take the lot to the lake as you just know what you are going to draw.

Talking of draws, maybe this time I would get prime real-estate at the Carpy end, and when Simon offered me the draw hat I danced a jig at pulling 14 a prime peg.  The jig came to an abrupt end though as they all gleefully told me that I was drawing the golden peg and had to put it back in.  Then as you would have guessed I drew a dog of a peg, peg 8 as far as possible from Nirvana.

So suck it up princess and go for the silvers was the plan.  The winds direct in my face, my hooter was soon dripping and bluing up nicely.  Trying to do fine work with glasses steamed up and numb fingers was no fun.  But eventually I was ready.  The swim showed no sign of life at all and I stood to have a pre match adrenaline piss, adrenaline that’s a joke.  After peeling of the layers the wind hit my parts and they shriveled away almost to being a girl, but I did manage to offload, oh the relief.  Relayering I somehow managed to dislodge my glasses reaching forward to stop them falling down the bank I stood on my landing net pole and broke it.  Bugger.  Coupled together an old landing net section with a bank stick and was ready to go.

I always do the same thing at the start of the match, and ensure even if they are small that I have fish in the net and do not blank.  In this case it generally means a little loose feed to the far bank and then ping a waggler in and get a few small Roach.  As in the case of the last match 2 pegs to my right it resulted in 3 big Chubb and a stack of Roach as I stayed on it all day.  But that wasn’t going to happen today.  It wasn’t too long before I realised that not only were there no fish there.  The wind was affecting the accuracy of loose feed and making it difficult to get tight and hold.  I changed to a heavier waggler and fed soft pellet and whilst a 10 oz. Carp rolled against my float and hour of minor alterations up and down and shotting patterns etc led to a further blank.

The wind now was becoming very difficult and I put the waggler down and fished the pole line.  Nothing for 30 minutes, and a change to the whip under the bush to my right.  Still nothing.  I pinged out the method, ate a scotch egg and down hot fruit drinks and watch an immovable tip sitting rigid in the wind.

In short it was time for a walk. Had to get the blood moving, it is surprising how a cold wind affects moral and condition of the body and brain.  A short walk saw most of the guys struggling.  Brian had a small Carp and Chubb.  Mark had 11 small fish. Will had nothing on peg 15; Simon on my golden peg 14 had a few small ones.  Caught on something he found in the bottom of his tackle box, secretive bugger.  Brian Jackson next to him was also catching but struggling.  Neil Pegrum had nothing and Jimmy next to me had had a massive specimen 1 ounce Perch.

So back to purgatory and on my peg 4 hours had passed before I had my first bite under the tree to my right.  It was a Perch.  Well at least I think so it was just about big enough for its first stripe and had eyes bigger than its belly literally.  With 25 minutes to go Jim had had two more tiny Perch.  I was laughing at life in that slightly hysterical way and the wind dropped for the first time.  I grabbed the light waggler and pinged it tight.  With just a dimple showing at least now I could see any movement. Sure enough with 15 minutes to go. It dipped I struck into what I thought was thin air, but it was a roach just so light it didn’t register till I saw it near the bank. In the final ten minutes I had a further 8 fish and just as the bites were picking up the all-out was called on the last Championship match of the season.

Will had ended up with 2 Carp for 12 pound and looked a likely winner of 15.  The ding dong battle between Shutler and Team Russ finished the season as they had started. Close. Me well I think I have done enough for third again in the Championship, (always the bridesmaid, never the bride, still I am an ugly fecker) but must let others do the mathematics.

Scores on the doors. Well sorry about this but cannot get pics from Marks phone to my laptop as my camera battery died.  Needless to say I wasn't last Neils plan to fish for bigguns meant DNW.  I surpassed Jims 3 Perch for 2 oz. With 10 fish for 3.5 ounces. Here's what I did get before battery failure.

First Mark trying to weigh in his privates , shouldn't bother Mark an ounce wont make the difference!

Put the kit away and slipped back into Vicky, put on the vibes and listened to the Animals “We gotta get out of this place” appropriate really on such a cold miserable day.

My net

Teams of 4 stroll

I am currently taking a deliberate break from fishing.  A blogger friend of mine Ivan Currie recently wrote "Note to Self, don't fish January 2018".  Well remembering how I felt last year after a mediocre Teams of 4 at both Pewsey and Basingstoke, I am a year ahead of you Ivan.

It was that and poor year in fishing that meant me thinking about giving it up altogether.  I've crawled to what looks like 3rd in the Championship, we have won the Wx Winter and and come second in the Wx Summer but all in all fishing had lost its spark.

Most of the fellas are good eggs, there are a few that are smoother than a bucket of phlegm, and some that you hope their next shit is a hedgehog.  But its not just the people the thought of smashing ice to catch an ounce; or looking like an extra from riverdance as you make your way along towpaths that are slippy and muddy.  It must be funny to watch someone like me waist up rigid as hell trying to keep the trolley on the tow path and waist down out doing Michael Flatley in an effort to stay out of the water.

So I have taken a much needed break.  Got stuff done at home built up a mass of brownie points and enjoyed my time by the fire with book and glass of port or cider.  There have been flashes when you think I wish I had gone today , but they have been very very few.  Indeed the thoughts of packing in and just racing and showing my dogs does seem appealing.

But how can you give up a hobby of a lifetime.  So as the glimmers of wanting to be waterside, stirred my juices I took to the towpath with my camera.  As it happens if I had had my phone on or my missus had passed a message that Leo had called I could have fished today.

Turns out Leo had rung late last night as he couldn't fish today, but as I was spark out I didn't get the message till 10 am as I was passed a cup of tea.  When Wendy said , Oh by the way Leo rang last night.  What did he want ? Don't know he didn't say, and you were asleep.

So it was some annoyance that I found Pewsey team of 4 fishing with 3.  Nobody's fault I suppose just circumstance.  Still back to the canal. In a way I was sort of glad, it was bloody cold and people were scraping amoebas, tiny fish four to a pound.  Only Gerry Blunt of Browning Andover had anything decent it seemed he had an 8 ounce Perch and a four ounce Roach.

Couldn't tell you the result but it seemed to me on questioning most Anglers, I calculated Thatchers were leading the way with Garbolino BV and Pewsey (one man down) pushing for second.

The rest of the blog is a selection of Pics from today that hopefully show the tough conditions , sorry if I missed you out.

Starting with the individual leader in the competition John Dewberry, and ending in a personal photo favourite.

Pewsey and Lady Luck turns in a cold one

Last canal match of the Championship and its club favourite Ladies Bridge.  We were all looking forward to it not least as it was the penultimate match of the Championship Year. With just one other on the Lake here the points system doesn't leave room for big gains.  Brian is leading, Mark second me third and Simon 4th.

I must admit I couldn't believe when we thought Brian had drawn center of the bay, but when we got to the pegs; peg 1 was in the bay and my peg 4 was the center flier. Mark to my right,

 Leo left

the Chubby then Brian.

With a little cat ice in the side, the only fish movement was past the posts as the Pike chased the shoals and the fish bolted in all directions.

The match was very, very slow to start with only me and Kev catching a fish in the first hour both of us having an ounce Roach. Leo then had a couple of ouncers and Kev had his first hybrid.  Brian then lost a hybrid.  Chas came along for a chat and then came along to sat Chris Rushton just out of the bay on the narrows had a pound plus Perch.

I then lost a big Bream as I un-shipped down to top 6.  Kev was into another hybrid and to be honest we were all struggling despite being in the bay.  I was slipping into depression as I was clearly not getting it right on the flier.

Mark however, was worse than me 3 hours in and not had a bite.  He got out the whip (clever move) and scratched out 5 fish from under his feet.  Brian then had a couple of Roach and Leo two more for another ounce.

I went far out on the feeder with choppy and defrosted bloodworm in the feeder, At last tip pulled slowly round and my delight was cut short by a Ladies bay Crustacean. One squashed cray, was dispatched to the field behind.

Brian S had now hooked and landed a Hybrid to go with his two snotty Roach

A little walk at 4 hours to get the blood moving to my blue fingers, saw me summarize the match.  Kev Chubb was on 4 and half hybrids caught on bloodworm, Chris was still one Perch pound plus on the end, Tony had 5 fish the biggest being an ounce Ruffe.  Bryan Jackson was biteless and Simon had just had a slow bite to find he had hooked a dead Bream.  Simon reckoned it had had a heart attack at being caught, as it was the only bite in his swim.  It looked like it had been hit by a boat propeller.

Leo shouted 35 minutes to go and then started to slowly pull his pole in.  Bloody hell he says I have one on.  He dollied it in and I couldn't believe it was nigh on 3lb!!! He reckoned it wasn't foul hooked and as hes a gentlemen I take his word for it.

Leo called all out and I cheered loud at the delight that it was all over and I could get out of the cold and wet and home to bowl of stew and dumplings.  Well done to Kev for winning, and well done to all who could work out how to get a bite let alone a bloody fish.

The score sheet is slightly wrong as cold fingers from the scorer put half ounce against Bryan Jackson and not Simon.  Leos fish was not three.  Kev had 9 lb 1 oz Brian had jumped from a blank early on to second place and secured the Championship.

Chris picked up fourth from his one bite.  Me I had a wind assisted 1 oz, Marks 5 fish came to 2 oz, and Simon well his fish didn't register but we gave him half an ounce. Leo making the only real change to the Championship places with his Bream.

We slipped and slide our way along the tow path , helped each other up the slippery slope and onto Ladies Bridge and said goodbye to the place for a while.  I gotta say I did really try, different depths, different rigs.  I fished most of the day on 1.1 lb  Bayer Perlon right through to a 24 hook half a pinkie but just couldn't buy a bite.  So I come away knowing I tried and didn't just sit there cold , feeling sorry for myself..........what more can you do?

It seemed Kev had the answer...............Fresh Blood worm.

See you next time

Pewsey Lake 2017

Well happy new year.  I had a few moans at lack of blog over Christmas and James 2 dayer.  Sorry but easing back on the blog for the moment cant think of things to say some times, and the black dog gets a grip of me which some of you will understand. Some things can never be fixed.

James 2 dayer went well with the cream of the local talent turning out.  The ice was the biggest feature, but banter and friendship melted that.  Cracking breaky from the Golden Swan.  Well done to Rob Randall for winning it.

Personally I was disappointed my mate Mark Russ blew it by not fishing his own match.  Chance gone mate.  Me I had a mediocre day one but if i could get a skimmer early doors day 2 then i would be back in it.  As it was I tipped back a pound on day two and went home after 3 hours of ice picking branch removal and scratching.  On reflection a pound in that section would have been a good weight but hey ho.

As for today well drew peg 10 half way down lake .  The match had the feel of a lets get it over with.  Fog thick so thick it was hard to see people on the next peg or your float the far side.  The day started well if a bit slow, with a Chubb and then another. I even had the jump on Brian down at the carpy end.

Not enough of us to day for two sections and with not many championship point matches to go had to do well today.

I caught well and steady but as normal it was the silver fish boy today with Roach after Roach.  Mark to my left has just lost a monster, Simon on peg 15 and Jim on 14 going well .  But Brian on 12 was sneaking up on me and just like a bus no big fish then bang 5 carp in 5 casts.  Why am I surprised.

Nic too is now in on the act with a near double figure carp.  Mark had a lovely perch and me one more Chubb and then a 4lb ish Carp.

The clock ticked through the gloom and the Roach keep coming , moved the waggler up and down tried different shotting patterns etc , different baits but caster was the way forward.  Mark called the all out and fish on , well 1/2 ounce roach lol.

Thanks to Mark for the photos as I forgot the camera today.  Next week Ladies Bridge , lets hope its warmer brighter and everyone catches

 Brian wins it by 5 ounces over Jim with Simon on 3rd with 26 .12.  Me well I managed 4th with a mountain of small Roach 3 chubb and a Carp for 16 lb 12 oz.  Nic pipped Mark and Will T went home biteless today.

Starting 2017 as I mean to carry on ......smiling and having a laugh with mates.