Pewsey teams of 4 round 3.

I drove up this morning quite relaxed . Last weeks incremental improvement giving me hope of a turn around.  The comp is a slick machine so we were already to go after a quick draw and on our way to the pegs.

Me I had drawn the Crab Apple section , not the famous peg itself but along a bit.  The CRT had been through this past week chainsawing most of the features and dragging them toward the patch so inevitably the canal was full of debris.

The tow path itself a ploughed muddy quagmire of feet grabbing muscle sapping mud. Still I was determined to enjoy and apart from gale force winds and the driving rain  - enjoy I would.  The match got under way with two little punch fish, before the first of a absolute mountain of twigs branches and dead reeds.

The debris was taking its toll on rigs etc but I didn't mind I was glad to be fishing.  To my left I had Tony Leach (winner of the first match) on the crab apple and the excellent Mark Russ from Pewsey Red on the end peg. (PS Get well soon Mrs Russ).

Sorry the blog is going to be short this week , a, nothing happened much, and B a busy night ahead.  Needless to say my section was tight none of us really pulling away it was fish for fish and close as could be.  The wind blew the pole bent like a banana , there was a tiny crack formed in my number 5 section which was quickly replaced; and we all fought manfully against atrocious conditions.

Presentation was ridiculously hard, and soon the normal light weight rigs were replaced to heavy to get the bait down and hold it. 4 mill punch was too much of a mouthful so 2 mill was order of the day.  Pinkie, caster maggot all too big. So squat and tiny hooks. Dotted the float down to sub surface and held a pin prick on the surface with bristle grease.  But frankly the wind made it a lottery.

Up around the bend by Pains bridge the canal was positively mill pondish; and the guy there was going well and finishing the match with a bonus Perch.  All of us were bemoaning the conditions and glad of the all out.  I was on the scales so I slipped and surfed the mud up to Mike Bernstien and Ronaldo on the end .  Mike missing out on end peg this week by one place.  I was slightly disappointed

with missing out in a tight section I had 1.9 lb, next to me 1.10 and next to him 1.11 . So ounces in it did manage to beat 4 others so midsectionblues.

So to the results in reverse order.

 Well done to Leo in section where the Bream were showing he did well to get second.

With 4 teams tied on 24 points it was a weight count back.

Well done to Homestores winners on the day.

Individual First Andy Clements Bordon (9 lb + Bream)

second Paul Giddings Matrix Talisman

Third  Brian Dukes Garbolino BV

A and B sections at Milkhouse was the place to be today with Bream and skimmers throughout, well don to Nic McCartney Browning , second match in a row big billy Perch in last 20 minutes saves the day.

Busy weekend next week another two dayer.  Better get the better side of the wife this week!!!

Back to Basics - back on the cut Basic Basey and Polar Pewsey

Saturday saw me dragging my sorry very large ass; up to Basingstoke for their Basey Teams of four.  We are bottom after the first round with the whole team not doing their best.  In addition my personal stock was low, so the only way is up as Yazz would say.

Took some ribbing from some at my recent performances, but its not the first time I have I have been the butt of the jokes.  Equally friends told me chin up forget recent times and do it.  Kev Chubb our Captain did our draw and I ended up at the swing bridge by Crookham village hall.  Yet another new stretch for me never before fished.

The section had in effect 4 end pegs with end pegs either side of the swing bridge and obviously at the very end pegs.  I was sort of mid section.  The recent icy weather had dumped the contents of its icy rigidness into the shallowish canal and I could see the bottom all the way across with just a little tinge of colour in the very middle of the track.

So it was back to basics be as quite as I can on the towpath.  Roll the keep net gently in the edge and pin it back to the bank. Two and three elastics, light very very slim floats. creepy around like a midnight poacher with his whippet I got ready very quickly and then walked well away from my peg.  In fact to the other side of the bridge to see Mike Bernstien and Brett Cooper .  Totally different this side of the swing bridge  much more colour in the track and more far side cover.

With 5 minutes to go I slipped back to my peg chopped the worm and prepared. All in was called and I fed a 3/4 bread line a short whip line next to a sunken branch I could see on the bottom. And a choppy line 16 meters left down the track.  After an hour the guy to my right had 5 fish for maybe an ounce.  Me I had six for the same ounce and the two left of me including the end peg were blanking and had not had a bite.

I alternated between 2 and 4 mill punch and between on the bottom, tripping the bottom and letting the canal pull it through.  Gradually I picked out a few tiny fish.  The guy to my right also the same but he was pulling away.  I pinged a few squat and half a dozen pinkie.  But they sat there torpid on the bottom of the canal and I could see em at 14 meters. not good!

Equally I tried all sizes off worm, I jigged it dragged it and laid on with it but no joy.  I asked the guy to my left what had happened to the promised skimmers.  He said he didn't know they were there mid week when he practised.  Both the guys too my left were now going for a walk as neither of had had a bite in 3 hours.

 The canal tow path traffic was high for such a cold day with everybody seeming to want to ask if I had caught.

One guy well I am no cactus expert but this guy was a prick of the first degree.  I tried to point out to him that the canal was gin clear and his waving arms and general joviality and noisiness was frightening the fish.  Oh he said never mind why do you have different coloured baits, oh and why don't you use bread? Or worm.

Look mate said I appreciate your interested but this is a competition I need to concentrate and need to be quite and sneaky beaky so as not to frighten the fish.  Oh I agree says he you need to blend in and ambush em.  "I remember" he says going up an octave and a few more decibels.

Ok says I turning around.  Thank you for stopping and sharing your experiences, but like I say trying to concentrate.  You know he says I get the feeling your getting impatient.

My turn.  Really Einstein you worked that out!!!!  Just trying to be friendly says he, ......  I glared at him and said "reciprocated my friend trying to be friendly also but I would be grateful if you could either step back to the back edge of the towpath or move on".

Well really he said and flounced of like John Inman from "are you being served".

Glad I still had my virginity in tact, I set about feeding a bit of crumb tight against a doogle at the edge of my 16 mtr reach.

The two lads were back from there walk and settled in on my left.with an hour to go they had there first bites. They said the other side was going well the further away from the bridge you were so Brett and Mike were literally swinging in 2 oz fish; and had had skimmers to a pound and a half. Damn it I thought , especially when I saw end peg man catching nice 2 to 3 ounce roach and actually using a "landing net"  I was determined this would not get to me, there was nothing I could do about it.  Just fish to win my side of the bridge and as high up the section as possible..

By the end and at the weigh in , end peg man now had roach and rudd for 10 ounces - bugger, bloke to my left 4 fish for 3.5 ounces.  Me 18 fish for 7.5 ounces

swing bridge man to my right 33 fish for 9 ounces.  Other side of the bridge 4 ounces. So I had two beat - that's an improvement.  Unlucky really not to get at least one 2 ounce roach - a specimen on the day.

Brett Cooper was next and he heaved out 11 lb + arghh that's where the skimmers were hence the extra colour this side of the bridge. Then 6

lb from next guy then Mike Bernstein on end peg with another 10 lb +.  It appears the cold had shoaled up the skimmers in this tight 3 peg area.

Back to the pub to find Marc Kay had blanked no bites Ian was second from last and Kev no better.  Not good for the boys but I will take it its nice to be the best placed in the team even if I was nowhere, at least I did the best I could.  In fact I was best on the day it seems from our 4.

.................................................................................

Deja vu as up at the crack of dawn and north to Pewsey for a club match at Wilcot rd.  A milder night meant it was foggy on the way.  But we all got to it and for once I drew well. Peg 2 up by the bridge Mike Bernsten on end peg one to my left.

 That's 3 end pegs in a row for Buzzer.  He made the most of it yesterday would he do the same to day on a favored peg.  He should at least be in top three, its a known hybrid swim.  He asked what he could expect , and I said good day 6 lb bad day 3 to 4 lb.

Both his and mine were out and out bread swims and to be honest I nearly ran to mine I was so pleased.  The match started with me getting 4 fish one after the other on the whip to 4 mil punch and Buzzer getting two 10 and 12 ounce hybrids first puts in.

This is gonna be good I thought a real tonic. Another two fish on the whip and then 15 minutes of nothing a change to my far bread line bought 20 mines of silence. So over the choppy line, count to a hundred..... 96, 97, 98 and dip to get a half ounce Perch.  Back in again 94,95, 96 and a 3 ounce Perch.  The canal stopped towing and with that the bites stopped

Buzzer , was still scratching but we are both very disappointed at are prime swims not producing. It was certainly no fish fest.  Buzzer managed to get a few tiny fish and was up to 25 fish. Then he had a 4 ounce Perch.  Me I was alternating getting snags catching twigs and leaves and one cabbage leaf and some carrot peelings.  No doubt from a boat.

So with 5 minutes to go Buzzer was looking down and was fed up with his 33 fish for around 2 lb he reckoned .  Me I had 13 fish including a small skimmer but would be surprised if I had a pound.  I was gutted to draw such a good swim but get very little from it. Bad angling? Winter? who knows.

A commotion to my left saw me watch Buzzer slip the net under a Bream just as the all out was called.

I walked under the bridge to meet the oncoming scalesman. Every one had caught but not as well as expected. Even quality anglers like Nic Worters only had 5 ounces Simon our championship leader 11 ounces Leo 9.  but the rest had pound plus. With Spanners having two hybrids just behind James Carty who had 2 big Perch.  In fact JC was leading with 4lb + with Buzzer and I to weigh in.

Me I had 13 fish for 13 ounces not last by a way so improvement there, but not good enough.

The Bream he had on the whistle made Mikes weight respectable enough to pip James for the win.



Well done to all for catching large or small.  Me I happier this weekend fished reasonably well didn't break anything , maybe could have more fish today if I had gone for it on the 2 foot boat line , but the 2 hybrids buzzer had in the first minute meant I fell for the classic of chasing his lead.  Sitting it out for long periods for a big fish.

See you next week.

Pewsey teams of 4. Round 2 all change

Firstly just one to let every one know am I am trying really hard to be upbeat.  But its official I am a wanker.  Since the end of the winter league in November I have had the worst run of results in 4 and half years. Not just bad  results bloody abysmal.

To that that end of today's match I had to admit it was time to sell the kit and take up something else. In the tackle shop yesterday Frank and Dave said, there is never such a low that you cannot rise again. Bollocks.  I have been going downhill for months and haven't even got to seeing the bottom yet!

Today's match saw me draw peg 30 at Milk house a nice summer peg never fished it winter time.  So as the boats came crashing through the ice from my left  the legend that is James Carty and I had a tea and waited for the match to start.  Neither of us fancied it and James

was kind enough to say that my bad run would end.  Well it did of sorts, as I didn't break anything drop it in the canal or trash any rigs.  I didn't blank either and to end its 3 years since I have blanked.  But I do however appear to have lost the ability to challenge for at least a section win.

One hour in and no bites 2 hours in and we are all struggling even the Legend JC.  Then Brian Jackson (below celebrating)

had 4 little Perch and Dave Self was catching on the Bread. So it was all to play for. Most of us except me had at least one fish.  Finally after 3 hours I had a bite and by the end I had 6 whilst three others in the section didn't have much more than me in numbers of fish but enough to double my 4 ounces.

I am past hysterical laughter and way passed annoyance, embarrassment is a distant memory.  I have offered my resignation from the team which they have refused, but frankly I am at an all time low I just don't know what to do to put it right. Its very kind of James C to say you fished your bollocks of mate I was watching you - you couldn't have done any more; and for team Capt Kev Chubb to say its winter its hard fishing.   But if 2 mill punch, or a single squat on a 26 hook cant catch more than 4 ounces  - I think you will find my kit on Ebay.

Any way here are the cards and Pewsey suffered today not least cause of me and teams that did bad last time did good this time.

Well done to Thatchers  three seconds in section keeps their lead going.

Pass the arsenic for my stew

Back at it bruised, battered but not giving up

I am sure you have all stopped laughing at my misfortune and expensive weekend in the teams Pewsey teams of 4 last weekend.  I must admit it was one of the moments when you wonder is it all worth it.  My friend Mike Marsden summed my luck up by saying don't ever take up mountain climbing. Still as Mike says its only fishing and there is another trip next week, enjoy it.

True enough a double header this weekend.  Basingstoke teams of 4 and Pewsey Lake.  Must say the reputation of both venues doesn't fall into categories which shout "confidence booster".  Still another friend Dave Self said be positive Gaz, its not Pewsey Canal you can be more positive with bait and they love the  Bread.  Others like team Captain Kev Chubb had practised and weights looked promising.

To the match itself and a horrendous Friday night Saturday morning left Brian and I driving through flood waters to get to the venue.  Comments on arrival ranged from good morning, to " this bloody rain can go and do one"; and I must admit the constant cleaning and drying of kit is wearing thin with me as well.

I have not fished the Basey in a long time and when I did it was a true winter fishing grueler.  I had never been to the Barley Mow stretch where we were today and it looked promising as arrival signalled a  minute respite from the annoyingly constant rain.  I drew what was reputed to be a good peg and with the comments of be positive and don't hold back on the baiting I stepped forward  to represent my club.

After baiting up with licky bread I lowered in the punch.  God don't I wish you could see sub surface before starting.  It turns out that despite plumbing all around and not finding any snags I was straight into my first branch of the day. Pulling free snapped the elastic and I had to start again.  Never mind I said to myself be positive and  you will be rewarded with positive regular bites and a good day.

But as the thunder rumbled low in the distance and the wires above and right of me crackled, giving a grey squirrel a shock and reason to exit from the tree tops. The rain poured and the bites did not come. Three hours in and one tiny roach fry.  My wrinkled hands made it look as if I had fallen asleep in the bath and the cold was setting in. Cramp in the calf muscle forced a walk on the towpath which helped circulation for a few minutes, till I hunkered down again determined to catch.

My mind was playing tricks. Was it a wind up from Selfy and Co.  The initial cup of liquidised Bread had brought nothing.  Should I put more in. Gut feeling said if they are not feeding over that adding more will not help.  Maybe pinkie or squat over the bread ?  I asked the Bordon angler next to me how he was going; and apart from twigs and branches he had nothing.  Buzzer Bernstein next along was struggling with tiny fish for ounces, However, left of him Selfy had a slab and all the anglers to his left had at least one skimmer!  I decided to go over the chopped worm and twitch /drag a brandling.  Resulting in diddly squat

The match three parts gone.  The guy to my right was almost out of view but he was blanking and tow path walkers were passing the message that the section to my right was struggling to catch anything.   I have heard it all before and my mind told me they were all bagging and I was knob, who couldn't catch fish if he tried.

I was treated to a Barn Owl landing on the fence posts opposite, but couldn't find my camera to snap the moment. The compost heap of twigs and leaves / branches that I was dragging in tempted me to fish of bottom for a bit to see if the fish were up in warmer thermal layers of the water. Not that it was deep.  But worth a try.  No joy though.  After snagging (even at 12 inches deep!!) and losing a couple of rigs across , the Bran Owl got fed up of the entertainment.  

Despite his rain soaked plumage which seemed to be merging his white, sandy and light brown colours into liquid caramel, a burst of spray circled him as he took flight.

A Kodak moment to remember on a shit day.

The last hour saw me flicking between bread, choppy and squat lines trying to make it happen.  Fishing on and of the bottom in all swims.  Down to a 26 and half a pinkie or single squat I did manage 5 fish in the last 15 minutes to make 2 oz total. 

On the scales I weighed them all in and everyone had struggled, guy next to me had  fish for 8 oz , Buzzer 40 fish for  13.5 oz. Then came the skimmer boys.  All of them had struggled with ounces of tiny squat fish so it depended on the size of the one skimmer.  

Last in section I struggled back along the tow path slipping and sliding in the ever constant rain.

Back at the car park I bumped into Ian Spanners Spanswick.  Don't ask I said 6 fish 2 oz. Don't sweat it mate I had 3 fish 1 oz!!  Not last in section only because some had blanked!  Kev, was second last in section with 8 oz, and Brian 3rd last with just over a pound, but he had lost a big Chubb at the net (yes chubb on the canal).  We disconsolately piled our drowned gear into the motors and headed home.

..................

Sunday morning saw the gear not dry but dry enough to wear; and I headed to the lake.  The mud and filth I am sure is nothing to bitch about consider our friend s in the north, but it does seem the ground can not take another drop,

Will met me with a cheery smile and his latest mug which takes a whole kettle worth of coffee.

We all agreed with the lake not looking inviting hot drinks were probably going to be the order of the day.  The draw got underway and I drew peg 7 at the crap end for the 5th time this season. Once again Simon and Brian continued to draw fliers in 12 and 14, in Carp corner!

Never mind it wasn't raining the sky was clear but cold so just settle in and try and do your best. 9.30 and the all in shouted, Will T landed his bomb of a ledger rig with a concrete splash against the far side to my left.  9.31 Will lands a 5 pound Carp.  I hadn't even landed a float in the lake!!!!  

That's the section gone then. 

Lets fish for second place.  Nic Worters to my left was landing his ledger with metronomic accuracy as both he Roly Phillips to my right and I set about trying to catch up with Will.

Down at the other end Garry P had landed 2 carp in the first 10 minutes and had over 10 lb already.  So it seems the superstars Brian , Simon and Mark Russ would be on the back foot too.  

Whilst dry and cold all day the match was a boring grind as I scratched out tiny fish and the others sat it out for a big one.  We had a couple of visitors walk the bank and it was good to see Martin Aris who had missed the match through work. A flooded Avon washing his trout hatches into the main river; and Chas Short my friend back from work in Africa for a couple of weeks before going back to the 40 degree heat.

Amazingly at the other end, Gary was still leading with the two Superstars Brian and Simon not a Carp between them! 

As the match entered its last 45 minutes they had nothing.  Martin came along and saying he was too cold to watch but things had changed Simon had just had three chubb, Brian 2 Carp (one after the other) Mark a skimmer and Neil Pegrum a Bream and a chubb, after balling in.

Oh well that's the silver pools gone then.  

As Genesis once sang " Just as I thought it was going alright, I found out I was wrong, when I thought I was right.  Its always the same, its just a shame Thats All".  And on this cold day the tune rang clear in my head " I could leave but I wont go, though my heart my tell me so, I cant feel a thing from my head down to my toes. Its always the same Thats all."

Stuck it out, and an a derisory cheer from us all greeted the all out.  The weigh in began in the slippery winter mud as we all rushed to get home before it did come on to rain.  Many of us looking forward, to soup, roast Chicken, Stew or a variety of other dishes that all sound great on this cold day.

Brian adds his one and half pound Perch and bits to his Carp weight as Gary P holds the net bemoaning the loss of 2 further Carp that would have won him the match.

We move along past the Carp end to my section where I couldn't catch enough to catch Will but enough for second in section and 7 points.  

Nics gamble on the Carp had failed as all the fish in his swim eluded him. Will had not had another bite all day. Steve had 1 fish for an ounce and Rolys fish amounted to 12 oz and third in section.  

But it was that last hour and a 15 minute spell it seemed when the other end switched on and Neil on 10, Marc on 11, Simon on 12 and Brian on 14 did enough to take the money.

No photo you know what they look like its been the same all season.

Fair Play.  Draw good peg catch good fish take the plaudits.  See you next week, back on the cut for round 2 of Pewsey teams of 4.

Pewsey Teams of Four.... Have you run over a Nun?

Well I was glad to see the back of 2015. Personal health issues (mini stroke) and countless other things, as well as the worst run of draws and results I have ever had.  That was just till December.  In which nearly all of my Chickens bit the corn for the last time leaving one lonely soul.  Then over Christmas both my remaining dogs were poorly , resulting in me having to put Digger down.

So you can imagine I faced this match with a hope that things would change for the better.

The teams gathered for the new League arranged by the terrific Kevin Chubb. We had 9 enter and would have had more if not for clashes with other major comps.  Still good turn out and looking forward to more teams next year.

As for the draw Captain for the day Ian Spanners Spanswick was volunteered and after all the other teams had been and gone. Spanners said do you want the good or the bad news ? Kev had staggered the pegging so that there would be no team with more than one end peg. But Spanners said you've got your mate on the boats.

Foe those that are new to my blog you will know when I draw the Boats section I always seem to get opposite this one boat which is permanently moored and again today I had D4 . The people on the boat are nice enough " but living in" they are nor adverse to emptying the bilge tanks and making noise etc.

I was greeted by the owner stripped to the waist with a warning that he was about to shower , and " it was a shame" that I had pegged there as he would be emptying the content of his shower through the little drains on the side of the boat!!  Never mind said I philosophical but aware this was probably one of the worst draws I could have. (pic below from a previous encounter - emptying the bilge has the same effect)

Still suck it up Princess and get on with it. So I slid down the steep bank convinced it was no more than welly deep, to put my platform in . Yes you have guessed it. It was deeper and one welly promptly filled with cold canal water.  Platform set, I tried to get up the muddy bank like a beach master walrus and set about the kit.

Called the all in, and started sliding the pole into place to cup in. Annoyed I had mud on my pole , I soon started to gag realising it wasn't mud but dog shit!! Gagging I leaned forward to wash it off in the canal and my glasses fell in!!!!!!!!!!........ really!  By now the incessant rain was added to by a fairly gusty wind. Thirty minutes gone and no bites. A little shower froth gathered around the the float bristle  - better than any bristle grease. I try the bread line again and it dips away for the first Roach of the day.

Its hammering it down now and and the wind is really trying to make a point. A cracking from above made me nervous as the tree above me struggled against the winds onslaught.  A branch came down just missing my top kits.  Phew that was close.  But even as I was thinking it another larger branch landed across my pole stretched before me.

It completely severed the top 4 section where half that and a top kit slid from view over the three quarter line.  The top 5 was also smashed beyond repair and the male end of the six broke off in the female 5.

I sat stunned .  God F'ing hates me I thought.  That is going to be expensive.  More pressing though was how would I get through the next 4 hours and try and catch fish???  If it wasn't a team event I would have buggered off home.  But had my team mates to think of.

So back to the van to get a waggler rod,and a 4 mtr whip.  30 minutes later I had a whip line on the track and a two waggler lines one across tight against the boat and one far right , same depth but around two feet out from the boat.

Whilst I had been gone the wind fairies had had fun blowing the lids of containers and my towel into the canal.  Ground bait or should I say slop had a nice topping of dead floating squat and pinkie.  Pinkie and squat were crawling everywhere leaving my entire peg looking like pebble dashed pink stipple.

 I dug out the worm and chopped up a cup full completely forgetting I couldn't ship out the cupping kit without top 4, 5 and 6.  Had a root around in the bag and dug out a bait dropper.

An under arm swing with the waggler rod fed the track with choppy and I settled in like a hunched dwarf against the rain.  Defiantly I ground it out.  One small fish after another.  It was hard work trying to get the canal dart to hold against the tow (you forget what an advantage a pole gives you). Equally its been a while since I had cast a dart against a boat and tried to sink the line but stay tight.  After 20 minutes of fiddling with the shotting pattern , I finally struck a balance between delicate delivery.  Which held bottom quite tight and over the bait.

No bites for an hour saw me on around 5 ounces of the tiniest squat fish but a run of small Perch in the last 10 minutes of the match doubled that.  I just had to hope others had had a bad day.

As it was I weighed in 1 lb 2 oz for last in section. Gutted to let the team down, but annoyed at the bad luck was continuing and it was dear day.  Back to the Pewsey Wharf pub to do the totting up.

See below for the results. In reverse order:

Strongest team on the day holding us all up was Drennan Borden.

Next comes  Browning Andover on 16 points tied with Matrix Cotswold Talisman; Browning pipping Talisman on weight count back.

Then Bankers on 18

Next Garbolino Blackmore Vale 20

Then  a tie between Pewsey Blue and Homestores on 23 Pewsey taking it on weight count back

Next and in second place Pewsey Red with 25 points

And in first place Preston Thatchers with 28 points

Individuals on the day 

1st - Pewsey is a happy hunting ground again for Tony Leach (Bankers) with 7 lb 14 oz

2nd Kevin Chubb (Pewsey Blue) 5 lb 15 and a half

3rd Brian Dukes (Garbolino Blackmore Vale) 5 lb 14 oz

It turns out whilst last D section was tough along the boats with all the weights coming from the turning bay area.  But even those weights didn't compare with sections A and B (Milkhouse) and C (Wharf / Crab Apple).

Two matches this coming weekend Basingstoke canal and Pewsey Lake.  Now lets go and see if I can piece together a pole for them.

PS. Chatting afterwards with Gary the fish Etheridge, he posed the question. Mate have you run over a Nun this last year or killed a vicar or something???  You do have more than your fair share of bad luck.

Frankly Gary I don't know but it does seem God is not finished with me yet.

See you next time for another fun instalment. 

Getting Crabby - for the fun of it

I was coerced back to the tow path this weekend.  Inevitably my intended break from match fishing  and the blog writing was cut short. I suppose I should be pleased with the complaints at the lack of a blog last Sunday.  It shows I am supplying a service.

 A service to those anglers who like me , have bad days tangle rigs and struggle on occasion to draw well.  I know this because people say , I look forward to your blog it cheers me up on a bad day!

So when Spanners said ditch the drop shotting and Piking and come fishing with me for fun. I thought why not.  When I got to the meeting spot Kev the Bread Chubb was there too and Leo turned up .

It was agreed we would try the Crab apple section of the canal and just have a pleasure session.

As we set up it was clear we all wanted to get something from the day, and inevitably we decided to add a little spice and go a pound each winner take all in a fun mini match.  The only difference being we would choose our own peg.

Kev and Spanners went either side of the famous crab apple tree and Leo went right of Spanners. Me I plumped for left of Kev.  We  eased into a 10 o'clock start and decided to fish till 3 pm.  So we were away and straight away I had a few Roach on the whip. Feeling pleased to be catching, I looked right to see every one else all catching quickly as well.

I suppose there is always pride at stake and of course the obligatory pound bet.  Sometimes the pounds mean more than any pools denomination. It s taking a quid of your mate that's so pleasing. They day was whizzing by as we all caught well for an hour. Small fish admittedly but the float was a pleasing disappearing sight.

Then the first Boat came through and killed it dead for Kev and I, Leo and Spanners kept going.  Kev and I resumed catching after the silt settled 15 minutes later. And so the day went steady patches of catching in between occasional 10 minute blank spots.

It became very dark over Will's mothers as the black clouds rolled in.  Panic time as I had left my coat at home.  Good job I had bought the golf umbrella I keep in the van to my peg. So after erecting the brolly I stuffed it down the back of my bib and brace and sat there as the first of the heavy rain smashed into it.  I must have looked a right Charlie, but it worked it kept the rain of and kept me hands free for fishing.

Good job to as the others were in fast forward catching mode and I had to get a wriggle on.  Brian Shutler arrived for a chat and watched us all catch the rain had gone and so had Brian.  The temperature dropped as the rain had stopped and after a period of no bites the drop in light levels on this shortest daylight Sunday this year; the bites came back.

A little late maybe but I was catching again and the relaxed nature of the day was quite pleasing. Kev called it, and I pulled my net maybe 3 and half I thought.

Along to Leo first, and he pulled out a bag full including a chunk of a Perch and another Perch of a pound to go with his small fish.  Weighing in went as follows.
 Leo 5 lb 6 oz
Spanners 93 fish for 4 lb 6 oz
 Kev the Bread 3 lb 4 oz
and then me , my net above 3 lb 13.5 oz.

Pounds all paid to Leo, we shook hands and wished each other Merry Christmas, and see you at JCs 2 dayer between Christmas and New year.

On leave now so perhaps I will get in that Piking tomorrow or Tuesday, I am sure.

See you other side of Christmas and Boxing day.

2015 Blogscars aka Fishing Oscars

First sorry to those avid readers for not posting a blog last weekend.  I have taken on board complaints and well all I can only say is the black dog had a grip and I couldn’t be arsed.  To note, I did fish Sunday and ended a run of poor results by framing – and miracle upon miracle caught a Carp.  No match this weekend so I shall be piking on my lonesome, just as well the black mood I’m in at the moment.  This blog however is a big end of year traditional award and comment type.  

So grab your glass of Port snuggle down in front of the log fire with a bowl of Phileous Fogg American style Cheese bubble chips or mince pies; and be prepared to laugh or go to sleep.  Odds on the sleep will win lol.

Well, has it really been another year since the last round of deserved and some would say un-deserved blogscars?  I thought I would go back to the very beginning and note the changes to my original reasoning for doing a blog and how it has developed to over 51 thousand views to date.  Thank you to my family for not reading but clicking on the view tab for 95% of that 50 Grand.

In the beginning the intention was to provide myself with a sort of electronic diary as issues with memory had meant, I was forgetting where and how I had fished.  To that end it’s proved most useful, in that memory has only become worse and recent neurological events have only compounded the issue.  It was also meant not to be too technical (not a problem I hear you say – Gary,  you know rock all anyhow) ; concentrating more on the ups and downs, the funny stories, the funny people and the banter that surrounds this sport we do.

I quickly realised though if I was not to cause discord or bad feeling you have to strike a balance between being an orator of personal feelings (telling the truth as I see it) and being gracious to those who far too often make specious comment about me.  Needless to say there are always to sides to any story.

 I take comfort in the fact that there is some scientific evidence that we all respond naturally to what I call a gut feeling of who means us well and who is out to make our lives a misery.

Bear with me whilst I expand on the science.  The gut feeling I refer to manifests itself as something akin to a radio frequency.  If you share a similar frequency and generally we interpret this on meeting someone new, pretty quickly, as a feeling that – yes I will get along with this bloke/ woman.  If the frequency is wildly different then the likelihood is you will naturally distance yourself from the person.  Coincidentally top sportsmen have been found to have almost identical frequencies at the point of “single mindedness” that takes them over that winning line.

As always there is other base line data you have to include for consideration - that of the love hate relationship and the relationship that builds over time based on a balancing of frequencies.  The biggest problem of all is the sharpness of the brain. In the case of a thick Wiltshire bloke like me, I take a while to recognise the signs (frequency) couple this with an inbuilt need to see the best in others it takes a while to sink in.

 

Politeness too is an issue.  How many of us actually say what we think – with no fear or care for upsetting the recipient? Or do we say out of politeness “life is too short” or “let sleeping dogs alone” for want of an easier life?

 Where is this bullshit going I hear you say?  Well it is the basis for what can be a good past year or indeed one you wish to forget!

On the year to forget front, it’s been an absolute mare of a year at the draw bag.  I am absolutely convinced that my triumphant of Angling Gods (the deceased I Marks / K Ashurst / Kim Milson) are testing me as only Job (old testament James 5:11) was tested.

 I was disappointed to see a lot of hard work not come to fruition with the PMG Match group; where despite some notable success as a team and some great individual performances.  The lure of being sponsored and fishing with the Gods proved too much of a draw.  I hope that one day the camaraderie and friendship at the core of Pewsey club will bring you home where you will always be welcome.  If not, then please be true to your new sponsored outfit give it your all in good times and bad, turn out , grind it out, support your mates on the bank, and I am sure after more losses than expected one day the winning sun will shine on the podium you mount.

On the year to remember front it has been mostly good for me.  Despite a poor run in the autumn where I have felt very sorry for myself.  My fishing has improved.  I have had more “pick-ups” than ever before.  I have consolidated second and third places in various comps and leagues but couldn’t quite win em.  I have caught some lovely bags of fish. 

I have enjoyed my never ending tussle to beat my friends, and behind the scenes; I have received more genuine and generous comments about my improved angling / consistency than ever before.

 It’s always nice to receive those comments’.  Especially from those who, I respect and admire – proper fishermen not wannebes.  Those who have been there and done it. In some cases still adding to massive well respected Angling CV’s.

………………………………………………………………………

So then to the awards.  Here is where I will be accused again of being a sycophant.   Not true it’s genuine, perhaps a bit gushy at times; but let’s lay that other ghost to rest.  It may be Wiltshire (Marc Kay, Si Irwin, and Chris Glover) but this is no inbred “bromance”.  It is my personal recognition of the blokes who I admire make me smile and laugh out loud and who are generous to a fault with their advice.

Canal Angler of the Year.  An odd one this as some would say where is he in the league?  But you have to look farther than that.  It’s consistency.  It’s the ability to regularly beat the best and the gods of the towpath week in and week out.  He is the back bone of the teams that do well.  It’s his points that win teams leagues.Ian Spanners Spanswick

Draw bag of the Year.  This one is a tie.  I know I hear you all say you still got to catch em, but I maintain if you draw well and on fish you are more than halfway there. Luck or not good angler on good peg means game over. Simon Burden and Brian Shutler. Left and Center

Match Organiser of the Year. Another tie.  Can’t get a fag paper between them.  Firstly Kev “the Bread” Chubb.  Chubby as you all know is the Pewsey Open Match Secretary and his organisational skills and enthusiasm have spawned some lovely matches this past year especially the evening series.  Little moan here though.  It does break my heart to see Kev and other match organisers of the past such as James Carty doing all the hard work and being rewarded with small turn outs.  Don’t come moaning in the future when you have no match to turn out to.  Tied with Kev is the wonderful Daz “Dazzer” Edgell. Daz has again this year taken the Wx Summer league and smashed it.  Wildly different venues testing all styles of angling merged with fun and frivolity, BBQs and banter. Well done both. KC forefront on left Daz on right

Team of the Year.  Sorry Pewsey boys especially Pewsey Red who in both summer and winter.  Put up spirited no moans angling being short of a full team for nearly all the matches.  You come a close second to the wonderful Clanfield Lads.

Pair of the year.  Okay steady on with the scrotum comments. Because it’s my friend Steve Trevett and I.  Consistency in the summer league saw us take the prize.

Bag of the year. Trevetts 10lb of Bleak from a summer River Avon in Chippenham, Graham Godwin’s 39lb from Radcot River Thames. Mike Marsden 40 lb. at Bradford on Avon all very worthy contenders.  However, selfishly I award myself and award for 353 of whip fish in the summer league Horcott lakes; 

and the top award goers to Brian Shutler for his stunning 74 lb. 11 oz. of Bream during a club match on the canal at Ladies Bridge.

Lowest moment of the year. Despite falling in at Bowden’s and almost drowning (kid you not drama queen) it has to be catching a Lake record Carp and with two minutes to go before the end of the match ( which I would have won) the Carp leapt free of the keep net which was at water level.  Landed on the quick release and descended into the depths losing all the fish in that net. There are not enough swear words in all the worlds vocabulary to sum up the moment!!!

Warm Cuddly feeling of the year. I had arranged a silver fish open match for friends and my angling heroes past present and future. Despite the atrocious conditions and drawing a peg between two angling gods, James Carty and Brian Shutler.  I fished well and framed.  Beating the blokes either side of you is always the first target in any match and when they are of such caliber it does give you a warm cuddly feeling.

Tackle item of the year. You are aware I am a tackle tart and avid hoarder of must have but not needed tackle.  In some cases though you buy something that just makes you wonder why it’s taken you so long to get around to owning it, or indeed not replacing a broken item.  In the case of replacing a broken item I would like to thank Brian Shutler for selling me one of his Normark Microllites to replace my crushed one. As for items bought at the best tackle shop in the south _ Reid’s Tackle Witherington Farm it my Fox “Chunk” base layer and my Preston Dri Boots.

Facebook friend of the year. Two guys here, one I have met and one I haven’t. First to Cliff Dutton never actually met and shook his hand but boy does he make me laugh; we must be on a similar frequency.  Thanks for convincing me to keep the blog going.  Second that giant of a man Shaun Bryan top bloke nuff said.

and Finally

My favorite photos of my fishing Year

Roll on James Cartys Christmas 2 dayer and here is hoping for a kinder draw bag in 2016.