A very different challange faced everyone at Peatling Match lakes - a NO CARP mission (decided by a very non democratic means if you ask me!). A good turn out saw most of the pegs on the new silvers lake taken (currently more of a long hole in the ground with a mohican or reeds running down the middle of it - but should mature nicely).
Lots of different makes of fish were rumoured to be on offer - including Ide, Roach, Rudd, Perch, Barbel, Bream and Carp, however the write ups on the fishing web sites stated the lake to be around 10ft deep (my *rse) - this saw most people with pole rigs around 6ft too long!
The fishing was fun but it was tricky to keep them coming at a regular rate (the first two hours were quite frustrating to me as I could not keep the Bream on the deck and they did not want to feed up in the water) but regular offerings of food seemed to be the order of the day.
True to form Wag the Whipper stole the show with a good display of fishing to hand with Wayne just behind - everyone caught (although some caught a lot more fish than others they were really only eyes with fins and did not count much in weight).
Highlite of the day - Chris 'Mug Em' Moody catching a carp whilst setting up his waggler (apparently he had no bait on the hook - yeah right ;p)
Next stop - Jansons Coarse fishery.
Friday, 29 May 2009
Monday, 20 April 2009
Riddings Roller Coaster
This years visit to Folly Pool at Riddings has highs and lows.
Highs for Wayne as he returns to the top spot after a prolonged absence with 27lb8oz. Anyone with a peg that was opposite the sunken island had a permanent shoal, obvious by the dark very slowly moving shadow, to aim for. A rise in temperature seemed to have brought them into the shallow water over the islands and poor buggers like me had a perfect winter peg, no features and 12 foot of water at 4 metres!
Lows as Jim watched 6 sections of his Diawa Tournament Pro sink slowly into the water before the boat could be launched to retrieve it.
Various methods worked with Wayne nailed to the deck and Craig up in the water waggling!
Perfect breakfast, perfect company, perfect weather.
Highs for Wayne as he returns to the top spot after a prolonged absence with 27lb8oz. Anyone with a peg that was opposite the sunken island had a permanent shoal, obvious by the dark very slowly moving shadow, to aim for. A rise in temperature seemed to have brought them into the shallow water over the islands and poor buggers like me had a perfect winter peg, no features and 12 foot of water at 4 metres!
Lows as Jim watched 6 sections of his Diawa Tournament Pro sink slowly into the water before the boat could be launched to retrieve it.
Various methods worked with Wayne nailed to the deck and Craig up in the water waggling!
Perfect breakfast, perfect company, perfect weather.
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
Packington Somers - Saturday 7th March
Well a good start to the new season with a very closely fished mission at a cold and windy Packington Somers - there were several weights in contention to pick up the winners trophy, one of which being Andy B on the golden peg (peg 16), however a few lost fish at the start proved costly at the end of the day with Andy being beaten into 3rd place by a little over 2lb but still managing to pick up the species trophy with a massive count of 5 different fishy life forms!
The top two weights were separated by an even narrower margin (1lb 1oz) with Graham just nudging Jim off the victors podium with a bag also containing the biggest fish of the day (a 5lb beast snatched out of the margins on the pole).
The favoured hot peg (peg 31) failed to show form on the day and was only good enough for fourth place.
April's venue has still yet to be decided so keep an eye on your inboxes for details and dates as soon as the rest of the season is booked.
The top two weights were separated by an even narrower margin (1lb 1oz) with Graham just nudging Jim off the victors podium with a bag also containing the biggest fish of the day (a 5lb beast snatched out of the margins on the pole).
The favoured hot peg (peg 31) failed to show form on the day and was only good enough for fourth place.
April's venue has still yet to be decided so keep an eye on your inboxes for details and dates as soon as the rest of the season is booked.
Monday, 9 March 2009
Lions, Tigers and Bears .. OH MY!
After our successful AGM it was time to do the anual venue spotting list - I had done some homework for this and on top of the venues mentioned at the AGM I sat down with google Earth and came up with a list of over 100 venues within 25 miles that we had not visited before and another 30 plus of unknown venues (so whoever said at the AGM we will start doing repeat venues as we must have exhausted local venues is way way way off the mark).
Previous years had seen us do over 250 miles to cover 6 venues - this year (all planned into the sat nav) saw us do just over 70 miles and covering 19 venues!
There were a few criteria we wanted a lot of them to meet - namely some sort of food outlet (for the colder months) and a loo (for our female members).
First up Baxters Garden Farm
Just down the road from our start point the most difficult thing was actually finding the entrance to this venue - after accosting a few local passers by (including a very attractive young lady) we found it - it was being fished and upon questioning this turned out to be more of a carp venue than a general fishery.
Next up - Friezeland Pools
Still not got the hang of the Sat Nav yet so we missed the turning for this one (despite the warning fart.wav) but after a little negotiation and much 'get out and walk' commentary we found the entrance. There were two lakes here - a pleasure lake and a match lake - the pleasure lake was packed and everyone was catching - we picked on the nearest bloke to the car park and proceeded to interrogate him - he had been fishing it over the winter and even when iced over he had been catching reasonable bags - encouraging! However the match lake was not occupied (the one on the left) and appears to be a little harder - but it does have a Loo!
Maynes Lakes
Another missed entrance - another ignored Fart.wav - but I now had the Sat Nav sorted and it was the start of a beautiful relationship!
Maynes looked interesting - a few lakes on offer and a local matchman to chat to - that was catching fish!
Next up - Lychgate Lane Fishery - whilst the name might not be familiar - each and everyone of you will have rubber necked this one whilst going North on the M69. A decent sized water that seemed to be up for sale - with a nice (but rotting) Gazebo (and Loo!)
Moving on - Temple Farm Wolvey (just before you get to Makins) - this venue is only bookable in the winter so may not feature - a nice one lake venue with an island - popular on the day with plenty of people fishing.
The next venue was a drive through as Wayne refused to stop - I think it was because caravaners were allowed (posh pikeys!) - apologies for blurred pics - I was desperately trying to snag photos with the camera smashing me in the nose - it does have loos!
Weston Lawns - a false hope! - with Stomachs rumbling we spotted the cafe at this venue straight away - unfortunately it does not open until later in the year - a nice 3 lake venue (complete with resident terriers and dead animal bones everywhere - lake 3 is the likely candidate, the one on the left - but beware the telephone line snagger!)
There should have been another lake a few hundred yards down the lane from this one but the gates were padlocked and no signs were up for fishing.
Hollyhurst Lakes - if they ever find out that water runs down hill - they are f*cked - at the top of a the proverbial grassy knoll are two brand spanking new lakes, a match and specimen lake - clothing for the day appeared to be dayglo orange or red (it had a loo!)- it was also cold!
Parkers next - a single lake - oddly shaped, heavily matched out on the day with plenty of Daiwa Duffers on display - people were catching on mixed methods - including the pellet wag - no mean feat on a cold day (it had a loo!)
Hopsford Hall was next - It looked pretty but judging by the number of bivvy boys this turned out to be a carp water
We were now getting HUNGRY - fortunately 5 Ways lakes had an open cafe, so with lunches ordered we wandered down to the lakes - 2 nice long and not overly narrow lakes, the bigger of the two being the 60 peg match lake - it even had a set of spectator seats! (and a loo)
Mill Farm Fishery - another drive through venue when we realised we had visited this one a previous year
Kilworth Sticks Lakes - a venue recommended strongly by one of the Daiwa boys - a multi lake complex (with Loo!)
We were now on the return stretch!
Peatling Match lakes - another venue that was padlocked up for the winter, however we had been round it on a year or two before (a multi lake complex with quite large lakes) - we have also had a mission over the road at the Peatling Pools.
Whetstone Gorse Match lakes - apparently Graham knows where the hot pegs are in these lakes!
Fortways Farm - situated at the back of Stoney Cove and guarded by several Dobermans (that turned out to be friendly) - an unusual lake (with a loo)
Last but not least - Watery Gate Farm - landscaped by Capability Brown - two lakes with a stretch of river (and a loo!). The entrance to this was blocked by an open ford so we had to walk a little to get there. As we were leaving quite a large number of young carpers were turning up for a night session, however we did speak to a few match lads that been fishing it that day for mixed bags.
All in all a very productive day - dont worry if your suggested venue was not on the list we did this year - it does not mean it wont get picked, some of them either one of us had been to before or it was an outlier on the map.
Alco
Previous years had seen us do over 250 miles to cover 6 venues - this year (all planned into the sat nav) saw us do just over 70 miles and covering 19 venues!
There were a few criteria we wanted a lot of them to meet - namely some sort of food outlet (for the colder months) and a loo (for our female members).
First up Baxters Garden Farm
Just down the road from our start point the most difficult thing was actually finding the entrance to this venue - after accosting a few local passers by (including a very attractive young lady) we found it - it was being fished and upon questioning this turned out to be more of a carp venue than a general fishery.
Next up - Friezeland Pools
Still not got the hang of the Sat Nav yet so we missed the turning for this one (despite the warning fart.wav) but after a little negotiation and much 'get out and walk' commentary we found the entrance. There were two lakes here - a pleasure lake and a match lake - the pleasure lake was packed and everyone was catching - we picked on the nearest bloke to the car park and proceeded to interrogate him - he had been fishing it over the winter and even when iced over he had been catching reasonable bags - encouraging! However the match lake was not occupied (the one on the left) and appears to be a little harder - but it does have a Loo!
Maynes Lakes
Another missed entrance - another ignored Fart.wav - but I now had the Sat Nav sorted and it was the start of a beautiful relationship!
Maynes looked interesting - a few lakes on offer and a local matchman to chat to - that was catching fish!
Next up - Lychgate Lane Fishery - whilst the name might not be familiar - each and everyone of you will have rubber necked this one whilst going North on the M69. A decent sized water that seemed to be up for sale - with a nice (but rotting) Gazebo (and Loo!)
Moving on - Temple Farm Wolvey (just before you get to Makins) - this venue is only bookable in the winter so may not feature - a nice one lake venue with an island - popular on the day with plenty of people fishing.
The next venue was a drive through as Wayne refused to stop - I think it was because caravaners were allowed (posh pikeys!) - apologies for blurred pics - I was desperately trying to snag photos with the camera smashing me in the nose - it does have loos!
Weston Lawns - a false hope! - with Stomachs rumbling we spotted the cafe at this venue straight away - unfortunately it does not open until later in the year - a nice 3 lake venue (complete with resident terriers and dead animal bones everywhere - lake 3 is the likely candidate, the one on the left - but beware the telephone line snagger!)
There should have been another lake a few hundred yards down the lane from this one but the gates were padlocked and no signs were up for fishing.
Hollyhurst Lakes - if they ever find out that water runs down hill - they are f*cked - at the top of a the proverbial grassy knoll are two brand spanking new lakes, a match and specimen lake - clothing for the day appeared to be dayglo orange or red (it had a loo!)- it was also cold!
Parkers next - a single lake - oddly shaped, heavily matched out on the day with plenty of Daiwa Duffers on display - people were catching on mixed methods - including the pellet wag - no mean feat on a cold day (it had a loo!)
Hopsford Hall was next - It looked pretty but judging by the number of bivvy boys this turned out to be a carp water
We were now getting HUNGRY - fortunately 5 Ways lakes had an open cafe, so with lunches ordered we wandered down to the lakes - 2 nice long and not overly narrow lakes, the bigger of the two being the 60 peg match lake - it even had a set of spectator seats! (and a loo)
Mill Farm Fishery - another drive through venue when we realised we had visited this one a previous year
Kilworth Sticks Lakes - a venue recommended strongly by one of the Daiwa boys - a multi lake complex (with Loo!)
We were now on the return stretch!
Peatling Match lakes - another venue that was padlocked up for the winter, however we had been round it on a year or two before (a multi lake complex with quite large lakes) - we have also had a mission over the road at the Peatling Pools.
Whetstone Gorse Match lakes - apparently Graham knows where the hot pegs are in these lakes!
Fortways Farm - situated at the back of Stoney Cove and guarded by several Dobermans (that turned out to be friendly) - an unusual lake (with a loo)
Last but not least - Watery Gate Farm - landscaped by Capability Brown - two lakes with a stretch of river (and a loo!). The entrance to this was blocked by an open ford so we had to walk a little to get there. As we were leaving quite a large number of young carpers were turning up for a night session, however we did speak to a few match lads that been fishing it that day for mixed bags.
All in all a very productive day - dont worry if your suggested venue was not on the list we did this year - it does not mean it wont get picked, some of them either one of us had been to before or it was an outlier on the map.
Alco
Monday, 17 November 2008
Springwood Fishery - November 15
When this venue near Melbourne was booked at the beginning of the year we all expected to be wearing thermals but global warming worked in our favour as the temperature just nudged in to double figures. This venue has never been prolific but was booked because, with the range of silvers in the bottom lake, we hoped everyone would catch ...and they did, even though Kevin only weighed in 15oz.
The day started well with a range of bacon, sausage, egg etc finding their way into empty stomachs and the odd rising fish brought hope. It seemed like it was going to be a productive day but the fish were not eager to visit the landing net and it was often a good wait between bites. All the usual baits were being used and I had a couple of fish to caster but double fluoro pinkie was doing the business for me towards the end of the session.
Jim claimed top spot with his overall weight of 16lb 10oz which included the biggest of the day at 5lb 2oz. Chris hung on to the species trophy finding 4 different ones. Carp, crucian, barbel, skimmer, roach, rudd, ide, perch, chub all found their way to various keepnets underlining the right decision for a late in the year venue.
Gavin must have spent too much money at the local fair and his non attendance due to lack of funds may have cost him second place in the overall standings for the year.
So that's it for 2008. Have a great Christmas and New Year.
The day started well with a range of bacon, sausage, egg etc finding their way into empty stomachs and the odd rising fish brought hope. It seemed like it was going to be a productive day but the fish were not eager to visit the landing net and it was often a good wait between bites. All the usual baits were being used and I had a couple of fish to caster but double fluoro pinkie was doing the business for me towards the end of the session.
Jim claimed top spot with his overall weight of 16lb 10oz which included the biggest of the day at 5lb 2oz. Chris hung on to the species trophy finding 4 different ones. Carp, crucian, barbel, skimmer, roach, rudd, ide, perch, chub all found their way to various keepnets underlining the right decision for a late in the year venue.
Gavin must have spent too much money at the local fair and his non attendance due to lack of funds may have cost him second place in the overall standings for the year.
So that's it for 2008. Have a great Christmas and New Year.
Sunday, 26 October 2008
Bonehill Mill - October 18th
Octobers mission saw us return the Bonehill Mill Fishery at Fazely Tamworth. We had fished this the previous summer and the hot weather had dampened its potential. It was a small but perfectly formed turn out of 13 anglers pegged with our backs to the car park from peg 2 onwards.
The match started well for almost everyone except me (Matt walked past and told me everyone had a fish first chuck) - but eventually I managed to get them coming on the T bag at about 60yds - I put 18lbs in the net in the fisrt hour - I know this because I did not have a fish after that hour and weighed in 18lbs!
Gavin to my left seemed to have been catching well (despite losing yet another margin lump after turning down the use of my margin pole) but rumour had already made its way that his brother Gareth had done the business with over 40lbs in the net and Dave Dawe grabbing second place and some coin!!
The match started well for almost everyone except me (Matt walked past and told me everyone had a fish first chuck) - but eventually I managed to get them coming on the T bag at about 60yds - I put 18lbs in the net in the fisrt hour - I know this because I did not have a fish after that hour and weighed in 18lbs!
Gavin to my left seemed to have been catching well (despite losing yet another margin lump after turning down the use of my margin pole) but rumour had already made its way that his brother Gareth had done the business with over 40lbs in the net and Dave Dawe grabbing second place and some coin!!
Arena Challenge - 27th Sept 2008
This year the Arena challenge saw us at the Mill on the Soar fishery and again the team format was used (4 teams of 5) all hoping to snatch the coveted Arena Challenge title (with swish new trophy) and associated bragging rights.
AZ Mixtures (Mix, Jim, Warren, Chris, Mick)
AZ No Hopers (Andy, Graham, Craig, Wag, Mark)
Arena (odds n sods) (Dave, Matt, Wayne, Ringer 1, Ringer 2)
The James Gang. (James *3, honorary James, Kev)
Weights off the lake preceding the challenge had been good and a preview by one of the Arena ringers on the evening before the match (which inspired said ringer to buy a bigger landing net) suggested that a good day was on the cards - However the day started much like the Arena challenge of 2007 in cold cold fog.
After walking the lake and marking out the sections based on the managers suggestions the envelopes were drawn and pegs assigned to each member of the teams (James's drew peg 1s, Mixtures 2s, No Hopers 3s, Arena 4s).
The whistle saw bait flying in all directions (mostly directed at the lake) except from me (I took another 45 mins to get a baited rig in the water but responsibly potted in over my pole lines) but little early action was to be had.
I can only really comment on the section I was in (Section A - James snr aka Simon, Me, Graham and Wayne) - Graham was biteless (despite being on the 'hot peg' and fishing the Method tight to a group of rushes) when I was ready to wet a line, Simon seemed to be catching some silvers on the pole line at about 8m, Wayne had had a tug on the method to the left of Grahams rushes but that was it.
First put in saw my float sail away for a 2lb bream and then nothing - noticing that nobody was really chucking into the bowl of the lake I decided to set up my pellet waggler (another 15 mins out of the water) and eventually pinging out a few pellets - it is not a method I am any good at really (but I do enjoy it) and the next 4 hours saw me stick to the Wag (with the odd look over my pole lines and failing miserably to tempt the carp that were making fun at me and Graham by fishing shallow).
After 4 and a half hours gone it was quite tense in the section - Graham had started to catch regularly after 3 hours (although to be honest he also started to lose a lot of fish) - we knew Wayne had had a 'lump' (and lost an even bigger one that practically swam across the island) and Simon had been bagging silvers and had at least one carp in the bag.
5 mins before the death I hooked into a good fish, only to loose it around a metal post (after it had made a good mess of Simon's swim) and I was devastated - I was convinced it was a section winning fish and without it I was down at 3rd position.
On the whistle the scales came round and it was all very close with me just pipping Graham by 9ozs to win the section (oh how costly those 9oz's were to be).
When all the weighing had been done we retired to the pub for a hearty meal (courtesy of Arena) and awaited the results (which we got twice due to a senior moment by Graham) - in the end it was a tie on pts between the James Gang and the No Hopers - unfortunately that 9ozs came back to haunt Mr Graham as the No Hopers lost out on weight (a few ozs) - so no Arena team Trophy - no Bag of the Day trophy - Nada.
Well done the James on the win - well fished by all, well done Mr Wayne on his lump of 17lb 15ozs - a new club record and thanks yet again to Dave and Matt from Arena for sponsoring and organising another fantastic challenge - roll on 2009.
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