tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315090962024-03-13T03:39:03.238+00:00Against Men and FishMatch fishing blog, tackle reviews, interviews, South West match results, fishing in Thailand, venue reportsJamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05206232197364552517noreply@blogger.comBlogger812125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31509096.post-52846925247841876702018-02-19T18:07:00.000+00:002018-02-19T19:17:59.903+00:00River Isle - V.E.S. Precision League 7 - 18th February 2018<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Before I get on to this weeks post, I heard the terrible news that the legend Charlie Barnes passed away yesterday, I didn't know Charlie that well although ours paths crossed on the Isle a few times many years ago. More recently I used to see him at Summerhayes quite a bit and, like me, he used to love fishing for the silvers. He always had a cheeky smile and never lost his sense of humour, even when his health took a turn for the worse. The last time I saw him was at the Champion of Champions Silvers Final at Summerhayes when one of his mates brought him down for a day out, rest in peace mate, hopefully you're bagging on skimmers somewhere! Thanks to Jeff Sparkes for the photo.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r-TFgIEnAAc/WohYhE2G3WI/AAAAAAAAIfs/bL4GCCbgij8vX9-vX_dj83j5yZfDXo-RQCLcBGAs/s1600/22901674_10155908327587244_1653015611_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r-TFgIEnAAc/WohYhE2G3WI/AAAAAAAAIfs/bL4GCCbgij8vX9-vX_dj83j5yZfDXo-RQCLcBGAs/s320/22901674_10155908327587244_1653015611_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charlie at Summerhayes</td></tr>
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For this weeks match, the final round of the V.E.S. Precision league, Adie had pretty much secured the title, although mathematically Steve P could catch him, Adie would have to blow out and Steve would need to beat him by over 21lb! It's a lot closer for the runner up spot though with Steve one point ahead of me although I have a slight weight advantage so I needed to beat him today - let battle commence! <br />
<br />
My day didn't get off to the best of starts when I woke up feeling rough as hell and if I didn't have to organise the match, I probably wouldn't have fished. I got to the bowling club and I couldn't even face breakfast! With the pegs I put in, I didn't really mind where I drew although I did fancy 120 as it's been the most consistent peg on the river this year, whereas in other years, its tailed off after Xmas this season it's performed all the way through. I announced the draw and as I was holding the bucket, after everybody had pulled out their pegs, with one ball left I asked Baz to draw for me and wasn't overly upset when it was peg H4. There were all the usual comments about drawing better than Picasso but so far it's only actually framed once!<br />
<br />
Elsewhere Terry 'The Toast' was on H1 with Karl on 120 and his brother Stu on 125, Steve P was on 126 which put him in the other section. As I arrived at Hambridge I was a little surprised that Terry's car wasn't parked on the grass verge and I couldn't see him below the bridge, then I saw a rod bag resting against the bridge on the upstream side! I parked up and sure enough Terry was setting up in my peg, I let him know the good news before giving him a hand to move his kit.<br />
<br />
I got my box in place and set up two one gram rigs, one to fish three sections to hand and the other a short line rig, on the side tray I had the usual casters, bronze and red maggots plus some Bait-Tech Super Seed hemp. 10:00 arrived and I shouted down to Terry before starting with the three sections to hand rig with double red maggot on the hook. Second run through I had a small roach and more followed along with the odd 3-4oz fish which were just about swingable. After an hour I had 28 fish for around 2-3lb and it was going well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tYe5Fink2Ak/Wor017foBdI/AAAAAAAAIf8/SUfxQJSsJZMl_D6UR0l5c_VxxXsrBVlwQCLcBGAs/s1600/28233623_10156247037502244_854120005_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tYe5Fink2Ak/Wor017foBdI/AAAAAAAAIf8/SUfxQJSsJZMl_D6UR0l5c_VxxXsrBVlwQCLcBGAs/s320/28233623_10156247037502244_854120005_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My view for the day</td></tr>
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I could see Terry was catching well but he was also suffering a fair bit of pike trouble, It was still a bite a chuck for me and I kept slipping a caster on to see if I could improve the stamp but they weren't having it and double red maggot was definitely the best hook bait. After 90 minutes I struck at a bite and was met with solid resistance before a good fish shook it's head and I just knew it was a big perch as there are quite a few in the area, I played it carefully, mindful of the perch's bony mouth and slipped the net under a lovely fish around 1.5lb, it was in stunning condition and one of the best looking fish I've had in a long time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C39BWBOBauc/Wor10Wl3JFI/AAAAAAAAIgE/kML_LOVnqVMT7MLFuzDxK9FqlrqOTvuwQCLcBGAs/s1600/28232864_10156247032762244_462759391_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C39BWBOBauc/Wor10Wl3JFI/AAAAAAAAIgE/kML_LOVnqVMT7MLFuzDxK9FqlrqOTvuwQCLcBGAs/s320/28232864_10156247032762244_462759391_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lovely perch in perfect condition</td></tr>
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I had another 33 fish in the second hour and with that perch I probably added 4-5lb to the net and I started to think a big weight was on the cards. Typically going into the third hour, bites slowed right up and I started having to chase them around a bit and I wondered if perhaps a pike was spooking them. I stuck another section on and had a decent roach on caster but it was a one off, fish had been topping under the bridge all day so I went to 11.5 metres and swung the rig out by the far side, I started getting odd roach but obviously it was a lot slower and a pike also had a go at a fish as I shipped back. I probably only added a pound or so during the third hour.<br />
<br />
I kept swapping between fishing under the bridge and three sections to hand and was still putting fish in the net on a regular basis and then with around an hour and a half left I flicked the rig upstream with caster on the hook and started catching some quality roach right under where I was feeding. Then the float sort of dragged under and I struck rather half heartedly and once again it was solid as another big perch moved off, I was sure it was going to come off due to not having a good hook hold but after a couple of runs, I started to think I had a chance when everything went slack - gutted!<br />
<br />
I had a run of good roach but couldn't stop thinking about that lost perch which would have been the icing on the cake. The good roach kept coming and I was netting quite a few and swinging some that I probably shouldn't have and then I hooked another perch, this time my luck (and the hook) held and I slipped the net under another superb looking fish of around the same size as the first.<br />
<br />
With around thirty minutes left, Ben Simmonds and his missus pulled up on the bridge, I swung in a fish as they arrived but then never had a bite for the ten minutes they were there, I did hook a rather impressive stick though! They left me to it and no sooner had they driven off, the float went under and I had another fish and added fifteen roach in the remaining twenty minutes for around 3lb. I ended up with 124 fish, nearly all roach apart from a few little dace, those two big perch and two smaller ones.<br />
<br />
I packed up and went down to weigh Terry in, he'd had lovely day as well and had caught loads of fish for 8lb 13oz although pike had been a pain and were even attacking his keepnet! Then it was my turn and the needle pulled round to 16lb 11oz, my biggest weight of the campaign and a lovely end to this years river matches. To be honest with that lost perch and some bumped roach it should have been nearer 20lb.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terry had really enjoyed himself and weighed 8lb 13oz</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had 16lb 11oz for my second win of the year</td></tr>
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Back at the results and Karl had a nice net of dace and roach for 9lb 6oz from 120 for second place and Terry finished in third place just edging out Adie Bishop who had 8lb 8oz from peg 128 although he did miss the keepnet with a decent chublet! Steve P actually finished third in his section which meant in a carbon copy of last year, I'd leapfrogged him into second place. I picked up £45 for winning on the day and hopefully I should have some league winnings to come next week. Thanks to Steve Parker* and Stuart Aplin** for the photos.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adie had 8lb 8oz from peg 128*</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve P had 3lb from peg 126*</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stuart had 4lb 7oz from peg 125**</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karl was second with 9lb 6oz from peg 120**</td></tr>
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<br />
1 - Jamie Rich (Against Men and Fish) - 16lb 11oz<br />
2 - Karl Aplin (Ilminster) - 9lb 6oz<br />
3 - Terry Morgan (Ilminster) - 8lb 13oz<br />
<br />
So a massive congratulations to Adie Bishop for winning the V.E.S. Precision league for the second year running, in fact the top three is the same as last year so well done to Steve P on his third spot.<br />
<br />
After seven matches and dropping the worst result, here are the final league positions,<br />
<br />
Adie Bishop - 9 pts (dropping 4) - V.E.S. Precision league champion<br />
Jamie Rich - 11 pts (dropping 3)<br />
Steve Parker - 12 pts (dropping 4)<br />
Karl Aplin - 17 pts (dropping 20)<br />
Stu Aplin - 22 pts (dropping 20)<br />
<br />
I've updated the list of framing pegs so far in the fifteen matches we've had on the river,<br />
<br />
120 - 9 times (won 2)<br />
126 - 5 times (won 2)<br />
128 - 5 times (won 1)<br />
110 - 4 times (won 2)<br />
125 - 5 times (won 2)<br />
H1 - 5 times (won 2)<br />
124a - 3 times<br />
H4 - 2 times (won 2)<br />
123 - 2 times (won 1)<br />
124 - 2 times<br />
128a - 2 times<br />
106 - 1 time (won 1)<br />
125a - 1 time<br />
<br />
We've had ten different winners so far with Frank Woodard, Adie Bishop, Jake Woodard and me the only anglers to win more than one match.<br />
<br />
Here are a few facts and figures from the seven matches,<br />
<br />
Number of different anglers who fished the league - 21<br />
Highest attendance - 15<br />
Lowest attendance - 7<br />
Biggest winning weight - 18lb 5oz (Frank Woodard)<br />
Lowest winning weight - 8lb 10oz (Bill Hopping)<br />
Number of different winners - 5<br />
Number of double figure weights - 9<br />
<br />
Before I go. the club would like to say a huge thanks to V.E.S. Precision for their much valued and continued support, it really is appreciated.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Next up</b></span> - Barney's Pairs Open<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Coming soon</b></span> - My next great review<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Check Out</b></span> - My last match (below)</div>
Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05206232197364552517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31509096.post-24210900640984231232018-02-13T21:58:00.000+00:002018-02-14T00:22:21.608+00:00River Isle - IBC Winter League 9 - 11th February 2018<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The cold snap continued through the week and with quite a bit of rain on Friday I was starting to think we might be on the pond for the first time this year. I popped down to have a look at the river on Saturday and it looked perfect and with not much rain forecast for the rest of the day or Sunday we should be in for a good match. I also checked out some new pegs at the lower end of the river which looked really nice and several fish topped while I was there.<br />
<br />
Sunday morning arrived and at the bowling club there was another good turnout and along with usual faces it was great to see Leighton fishing his first match with us for a while. It was the final round of the IBC league and going into this match, Jake had all but secured the title, theoretically he could be caught by Adie or me but one of us would need to win our section with Jake finishing fourth or worse and we'd have to beat him by over 4lb, so possible but a big ask!<br />
<br />
I announced the draw and as people started delving into the bucket of hope, there was the usual array of facial expressions with smiles, grimaces and the odd screwed up face of abject misery! Adie had drawn 124 and didn't look overly impressed while Jake was on H1 at Hambridge, a peg he won from with over 15lb recently and he would be hard to beat today. Fieldy drew his peg which left just one ball in the bucket and I asked him to pull it out for me, he handed it to me and although I fancied one of the new pegs, I was happy with 125. So with Adie and me in the same section it would be a straight shoot out for the runners up spot in the league.<br />
<br />
I got to Isle Brewers and the river looked lovely with a tinge of colour and I said to Adie that I thought it would fish its head off today. Rob was on 126 with Ben Simmonds on 128 although he wasn't too optimistic after fishing it on Wednesday and struggling. I'd put the start time back to 10:30 to give people time to find the new pegs and get set up so we were only fishing five hours today although in hindsight we could have probably fished to 4 'o' clock. As I was getting my kit out of the car and putting my waterproofs on, the strap on my bib and brace broke which wasn't a great start and I hoped it wasn't a bad omen.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The river looked nice but the wind was bitter!</td></tr>
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I got my box in place and set up the same two rigs as last time, a 0.2gram Drennan AS1 to fish three sections to hand running the rig through and a 1 gram bodied float for holding back, both had 0.10mm hooklengths with size 18 Kamasan B611's. I'd also put some of the new MAP orange 3-6 elastic through one of my top kits and was looking forward to trying it today. On the side tray I had bronze and red maggots, casters and Bait-Tech Super Seed hemp. It was looking like being a lovely day with blue skies although the rather keen wind was a tad nippy. I was ready in plenty of time and then heard Adie shout something, I looked up and he was pointing to something, when I looked there was a very big, ominous black cloud, I walked up to see him (pulling my bib and brace up as I went!) and we met midway between our two pegs. I said hopefully the bad weather would bypass us but I think that was more wishful thinking on my part!<br />
<br />
With a few minutes before the start we headed back to our respective pegs, I picked up the lighter rig and put a caster on in readiness for the start and typically the wind got up and hail stones started pelting down - lovely! A quick glance over my shoulder revealed all those black clouds headed our way. I flicked the rig out and started feeding casters and hemp to my right, I had a 3oz roach second run through but already I could see the strong downstream wind was going to be a pain as it was blowing the rig around and affecting presentation. Despite that I was catching well, mainly small roach and dace along with the odd minnow. I did swing a better roach that I really should have netted and was just thinking as much when it slipped from my grasp, swung back out and dropped off!<br />
<br />
After the first hour I had 20 fish for probably 2.5lb although I'd bumped off a couple and also dropped off a decent dace when I tried swinging it (I know!, maybe I'll learn one day). The weather was awful, we had hail and rain and it even tried snowing a couple of times but the wind was the worst and it made swinging the rig in a much more difficult job than it should have been! The second hour was similar and I had another 16 fish to put me on around 4lb with three hours to go. I was a little worried that at the current catch rate, I would do about 10lb and I didn't think that would be anywhere near enough today and needed some better fish to put in an appearance. The other noticeable thing was that I couldn't seem to catch more than a couple of fish from one spot, I caught just off my keepnet, straight out in front and downstream.<br />
<br />
The wind was horrendous and my catch rate continued to go in the wrong direction in the third hour, I tried double maggot but after a couple of minnows, I'd soon had enough of that. I did try the heavier rig and although I had a few bites, it just wasn't right, because it was so shallow the olivette was nearly under the float and it was all wrong, a slightly lighter rig with a spread bulk would have been much better I feel. I also tried adding another section and had a run of fish but that wasn't quite right with the long line either. I did see Rob walk up the road with his landing net as he'd snapped his number four section and was off to retrieve his pole sections. He got them back but said he'd also suffered a fair bit of pike trouble so not a good day!<br />
<br />
I was still getting odd fish but it was obvious I wasn't going to do a big weight, Rob turned up and had called it a day after snapping another section. He suggested I go further across which was proving difficult to do with the long line rig, I tried the heavier float and had a little roach followed by the first two chublets of the day, not big fish but at least the catch rate was still ticking over. He left me to it and walked up to see how Adie was doing.<br />
<br />
I had another go with the lighter rig and had a couple of better roach from the top of the peg but also lost a good one. With about half an hour left, Rob returned and I asked if Adie was bagging, he said not really although he'd caught one chub and had just started to get some better roach. He also said he'd heard from Leighton on one of the new pegs and they were all struggling. Just after he left, disaster struck when I hooked the far bank, I grabbed the elastic and pulled, the float shot back at a rate of knots and hit my pole rest attachment, disintegrating in the process, the float tip and stem were still on the line but the body was nowhere to be seen!<br />
<br />
For the remaining twenty minutes or so, I fished the heavier rig and had a few more fish to finish with 81 roach, dace, chublets and gudgeon (plus a few minnows) which at an average of 1.5oz apiece would give me around 7.5lb but would it be enough? I packed up and went to weigh Adie in first, he had 7lb 3oz and this was going to be really close, I pulled my net out and he immediately said I'd beaten him but I still wasn't sure, the needle eased past 8lb and he called it at 8lb 6oz - phew! I took my kit back to the car before going down to weigh Ben in, he'd struggled for 1lb 2oz and wasn't going to come back for the results but I said if the other section had fished really hard and Adie and me framed, he might sneak a default section win.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YjCH_mWEjfQ/WoNRF9zco3I/AAAAAAAAId4/jb7P4i57_MwYOcaPVWqur4_x-z82I1NzgCLcBGAs/s1600/28000683_10156225306762244_921391989_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YjCH_mWEjfQ/WoNRF9zco3I/AAAAAAAAId4/jb7P4i57_MwYOcaPVWqur4_x-z82I1NzgCLcBGAs/s320/28000683_10156225306762244_921391989_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adie had a nice chub and some quality roach for 7lb 3oz</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2TrhgDSniZo/WoNRqfc7owI/AAAAAAAAIeA/RvGfc2fBOis-N6-ZSYAKj1EfNKtJzA2WgCLcBGAs/s1600/27939791_10156225306487244_1479145452_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2TrhgDSniZo/WoNRqfc7owI/AAAAAAAAIeA/RvGfc2fBOis-N6-ZSYAKj1EfNKtJzA2WgCLcBGAs/s320/27939791_10156225306487244_1479145452_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had 81 fish for 8lb 6oz</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Jake phoned and had done a fantastic 13lb 3oz of quality roach which meant he'd won the section and the league title. Back at the results and although a few struggled in the other section, given the conditions, there were some decent weights, Frank had caught steadily all day to weigh 6lb 8oz and young Stuart 'Budgie' Aplin had weighed 5lb 9oz. Why 'Budgie' you may well ask, well (and you have Hurf to blame for this), he's always on the perch! And true to his nickname he had several in his catch today including a real stunner of 2lb 10oz. Thanks to Jake Woodard for the photos*<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hyu0YRFEBNc/WoNWqVoeKxI/AAAAAAAAIeQ/EIDwjHciEagf0KdGiHJzXFGMJZ4Kgo0UQCLcBGAs/s1600/27939652_10156225110362244_173980631_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hyu0YRFEBNc/WoNWqVoeKxI/AAAAAAAAIeQ/EIDwjHciEagf0KdGiHJzXFGMJZ4Kgo0UQCLcBGAs/s320/27939652_10156225110362244_173980631_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jake won with 13lb 3oz of quality roach from Hambridge*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LQDxTd6cN18/WoNXALlCgqI/AAAAAAAAIeU/g5-ARe1UPYAr5pRSXAwEX80-iZeEiiaVgCLcBGAs/s1600/28001497_10156225109607244_218301065_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LQDxTd6cN18/WoNXALlCgqI/AAAAAAAAIeU/g5-ARe1UPYAr5pRSXAwEX80-iZeEiiaVgCLcBGAs/s320/28001497_10156225109607244_218301065_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karl weighed a 1lb from peg H2*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
With no sponsor for this league, Rob had managed to secure some money from Diversey, a fantastic gesture and very much appreciated. I worked out all the points before doing the results, Jake was the winner on the day to take the league title in style, I ended up in second place on the day picking up £35 plus another £30 for the runners up spot in the league, Adie was third and Ben (told you mate!) and Frank were the two section winners.<br />
<br />
1 - Jake Woodard (Ilminster) - 13lb 3oz<br />
2 - Jamie Rich (Against Men and Fish) - 8lb 6oz<br />
3 - Adie Bishop (Taunton) - 7lb 3oz<br />
<br />
Sections<br />
A - Ben Simmonds (Ilminster) - 1lb 2oz<br />
B - Frank Woodard (Ilminster) - 6lb 8oz<br />
<br />
So after nine matches, the top five in the league looked like this,<br />
<br />
Jake Woodard - 15 pts (dropping 4) - IBC League Champion<br />
Jamie Rich - 19 pts (dropping 30)<br />
Adie Bishop - 20 pts (dropping 4)<br />
Graham Field - 23 pts (dropping 30)<br />
Frank Woodard - 36 pts (dropping 30)<br />
<br />
I've updated the list of framing pegs so far in the fourteen matches we've had on the river,<br />
<br />
120 - 8 times (won 2)<br />
126 - 5 times (won 2)<br />
128 - 5 times (won 1)<br />
110 - 4 times (won 2)<br />
125 - 5 times (won 2)<br />
H1 - 4 times (won 2)<br />
124a - 3 times<br />
123 - 2 times (won 1)<br />
124 - 2 times<br />
128a - 2 times<br />
H4 - 1 time (won 1)<br />
106 - 1 time (won 1)<br />
125a - 1 time<br />
<br />
We've had ten different winners so far with Frank Woodard, Adie Bishop, Jake Woodard and me the only anglers to win more than one match.<br />
<br />
So another cracking little league, before I go here are a few facts and figures from the nine matches (seven on the river and two on the pond),<br />
<br />
Number of different anglers who fished - 22<br />
Highest attendance - 14<br />
Lowest attendance - 10<br />
Biggest winning weight - 25lb 12oz (Terry Morgan)<br />
Lowest winning weight - 3lb 10oz (Jamie Rich)<br />
Number of different winners - 7<br />
Number of double figure weights - 17<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Next up</b></span> - River Isle<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Coming soon</b></span> - My next great review<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Check Out</b></span> - My last match (below)</div>
Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05206232197364552517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31509096.post-33603677277855739932018-02-07T17:30:00.000+00:002018-02-07T20:46:55.929+00:00River Isle - Open - 4th February 2018<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In last weeks post, I shared some great feedback I'd received, I wasn't 'angling' (if you'll excuse the pun!) for nice comments but it would seem that the blogs readers are a lovely lot and I just had to share a selection of the awesome things you had to say, thank you all so much, it means a lot to know you like what I do,<br />
<br />
Ronald said <em>'<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">Jamie, look forward to reading the reports...top notch. Great small fish match fishing.'</span></span></em><br />
<em><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"></span></span></em><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">Ben added<em> '<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">I live my fishing through your blog these days. Feel like I know the venues you fish and the characters you fish with so well. Great blogging mate.'</span></span></em></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><em><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"></span></span></em></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">And this from Don<em> '<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">Great blog and great fishing glad you got a result, nice one'</span></span></em></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><em><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"></span></span></em></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">On to this weeks report and it got colder in the week but we had some rain on Saturday which would hopefully add a bit of colour to the river. I walked miles of the river the day before as I was hoping to put some new sections in but at South Bradon the only fishable peg was 66 which looked amazing but there was nothing else to put with it, the Stone Bridge, Council House and Hell Hole all either had no depth or nowhere to sit and peg 74 which used to be full of chub has had all the trees recently removed and didn't look very nice at all. I must admit I walked away from that section feeling disheartened. </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">Things were better at North Bradon with the pool below the bridge looking really nice although it would possibly be quite awkward to fish, peg 96 below that looked awesome with loads of overhanging tree cover and I put a piece of paper down as a marker, there was also a nice looking swim below the wires which I put as 97 but as it was an unknown quantity, it would be a reserve peg, the next bend below looked good with far bank cover and a raft of rubbish, so that would be 98, I also looked at what used to be peg 100, which looked good but a really long walk. The forecast was for strong winds the following day, so I was going to put Lower Coxes in as Redbridge would be very exposed but when I stopped to have a look the access has been blocked with a big rock to try and stop the fly tippers.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">On a much more positive note, we had 16 anglers booked in with several new faces joining us including Steve Maynard who was coming all the way up from Cornwall to fish and Martin Pallett, Linda Pallett and Dave Taylor coming down from Newbury after reading about the river on the blog. Steve said he reads the blog and wanted to have a go on the Isle, he'd been asking about depths, tactics etc and I've tried to give him as much info as possible, he also came up and fished the Tone recently where he had a cracking day and framed. I was really hoping they'd all enjoy themselves and catch a few fish.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
I got to the bowling club and they were already there along with a few regulars, I ordered breakfast before introducing myself. I finished eating and started taking the money, we always run an optional £5 superpool for the open and nearly everyone entered it. With everybody paid up, I explained about the sections and parking etc before announcing the draw, Adie went in early per usual but decided to let someone else have a go on 126 and 128 today as he pulled out 108 at Redbridge, a good peg but would be very exposed today. Hurf drew 125 and was happy with that, as was Terry 'The Toast' with 128 and Justin on 124, Baz wasn't as impressed when he drew the same peg as last week, 123. Fieldy was on 126 and I was wracking my brains as to what pegs were left, Big Frank stuck his hand in the bucket and pulled out H4 which has been a very consistent peg, that left just one ball and I asked Frank to draw it for me, it was 96 which I was fairly pleased with but it was a bit of an unknown as it hasn't been pegged for ages.<br />
<br />
The newbies had a mixed bag of pegs, Steve and Martin had both drawn really well with pegs 120 and H1 respectively, Linda was on 129 which is a half decent draw and Dave was down with me on 98 at North Bradon. I'd decided to put the start time back by half an hour to give people plenty of time to find their pegs and set up and it was a good job I did as by the time I'd driven to Isle Brewers so Martin could follow me and then back to North Bradon where I showed Dave where his peg was, it was a bit of a rush to set up.<br />
<br />
I have to say my peg looked really good and probably one of the most chubby looking swims on the river, I set up a 1 gram bodied float to fish across to the far bank at the top of the swim and also down in the flow under the overhanging branches, my other rig was a 1.5 gram DH13 for the deep hole in front of me. I was just about ready in time and started inching the lighter rig down in the flow, I was feeding casters and hemp in front of me and also across to the far bank at the top of the swim but wanted to leave that for at least an hour before trying it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ClMDQEPHTvs/Wnj7WBH8LDI/AAAAAAAAIbE/nRyWnRgBxVITbIiW_uqmqC6FmSW5k1fowCLcBGAs/s1600/27658950_10156204418532244_1084388913_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ClMDQEPHTvs/Wnj7WBH8LDI/AAAAAAAAIbE/nRyWnRgBxVITbIiW_uqmqC6FmSW5k1fowCLcBGAs/s320/27658950_10156204418532244_1084388913_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hopefully a chub or three about!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I didn't want to have to go too far down the swim if I could help it as the overhanging branches would make it hard work getting fish out. After half an hour with no indications, I decided to have a go at the top of the swim where the flow was going back on itself, the wind was hampering presentation and it was bloody cold as well! A further thirty minutes passed without any sign and it was starting to look like I might have to venture down into the lions den. I went back to inching the float down the middle of the peg and was holding the rig back by the second overhanging branch you can see in the photo when the float dipped under but there wasn't the solid resistance I'd hoped for on the strike and a little gudgeon was the result!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WfswDOuAJ2w/WnrdUSYK_RI/AAAAAAAAIbU/vS3mBJIn0-wPe2M8fAEZnK1zqoStvVT8ACLcBGAs/s1600/27783319_10156204416207244_422439755_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WfswDOuAJ2w/WnrdUSYK_RI/AAAAAAAAIbU/vS3mBJIn0-wPe2M8fAEZnK1zqoStvVT8ACLcBGAs/s320/27783319_10156204416207244_422439755_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At least I hadn't blanked!</td></tr>
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With no more indications, I've gone further down into the chubs lair but still no indications and I was starting to get the feeling it wasn't going to happen. I did have one little knock but when I had a look at the bait, just the end had been nipped off the caster which I suspect was probably the work of a minnow. The wind was still playing havoc with presentation so I rested the pole on one of the branches while I had a cup of coffee, after a few minutes, I had a couple of knocks as something had a go at the bait although it didn't really develop but at least I was starting to get a bit of interest. I still felt there was a good chance I'd get a couple of chub, which might seem like an odd thing to say with half the match gone and less than an ounce in the net, but I know there are chub in the swim and surely they would have a go at some point!<br />
<br />
With about two hours to go, Justin phoned from peg 124 to see how I was doing, I told him and he said he was struggling too with just minnows to show for his efforts, apparently it was a similar story with Baz on 123 and even Hurf on 125 wasn't bagging but he was putting a few fish together. So it sounded like the river was fishing really hard and a couple of chub might be enough to frame today and I was hoping they might show in the 'golden' last hour.<br />
<br />
I was going through the motions a bit, running the float through, when out of the blue the float sailed away, a reflex strike saw a fair bit of elastic come out, I shipped back as fast as I could to keep the fish away from the snags but also avoiding the overhanging branches and slipped the net under a chub of around a pound and a quarter, it wasn't one of the big boys that I know inhabit the swim but it was a start and with an hour and a half to go I fancied I might get a couple more.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-82M-DwKbdm4/WnruRLI23EI/AAAAAAAAIbk/cQhia2GytDMRGwQ0ybki4ghvW8T7bgWTwCLcBGAs/s1600/27718586_10156204416032244_315673325_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-82M-DwKbdm4/WnruRLI23EI/AAAAAAAAIbk/cQhia2GytDMRGwQ0ybki4ghvW8T7bgWTwCLcBGAs/s320/27718586_10156204416032244_315673325_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally got one!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Despite my renewed enthusiasm, I never had another bite, I tried upping the feed but it just didn't happen and with five minutes to go, Dave appeared behind me, the only fish he'd caught was a 2lb trout. I packed up and he weighed me in with my two fish pulling the needle around to 1lb 6oz. To be honest I don't think the conditions have done us or the pegs any favours today and I still feel they're good swims that on another day, could frame but it's difficult when swims don't produce, to justify using them again.<br />
<br />
I got back to the bowling club and the first person I saw was Andy Welch who'd been at Redbridge and I asked how they'd gone on down there expecting him to say they'd struggled, he said both him and Adie had only caught minnows and the wind had been a nightmare but young Stuart Aplin had caught seven chub for a fantastic 15lb 15oz from peg 106 and Steve Maynard had a cracking bag of roach and dace weighing 13lb 8oz from peg 120. Thanks to Adie Bishop for the photos*<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-in4xxZVG60I/WnsbVBerSwI/AAAAAAAAIb0/T-RHcSy4k8UG-BOx4f5SFONyNDzk24PigCLcBGAs/s1600/27661492_10156204413347244_744365092_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-in4xxZVG60I/WnsbVBerSwI/AAAAAAAAIb0/T-RHcSy4k8UG-BOx4f5SFONyNDzk24PigCLcBGAs/s320/27661492_10156204413347244_744365092_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stuart had some lovely chub for 15lb 15oz*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a3mNri_rLNM/WnscGwBh3KI/AAAAAAAAIb8/18F3JHsLakcFqRrJoVjVoeq6s414yekfgCLcBGAs/s1600/27718784_10156204413997244_2072416482_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a3mNri_rLNM/WnscGwBh3KI/AAAAAAAAIb8/18F3JHsLakcFqRrJoVjVoeq6s414yekfgCLcBGAs/s320/27718784_10156204413997244_2072416482_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve enjoyed his first match on the Isle, catching 13lb 8oz of quality roach and dace*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As the others started filtering back, the river had fished hard in places with Martin having the best weight at Hambridge with 9lb 2oz followed by Frank with 6lb 14oz and Fieldy was top at Isle Brewers with 6lb 15oz, closely followed by Hurf with 6lb 14oz. Intrestingly, Linda on 129 has lost a couple of big fish with one surging off and snapping her number four section, was it that carp again or maybe a big pike. With Stu and Steve both framing in my section, I was the next best weight, just pipping Justin who had 1lb 3oz, to the £20 section money. Thanks to Hurf for the photos**<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZwKhYiwnbQY/WnshIJyOG4I/AAAAAAAAIcM/32p4uHqBr44jPgm2McCPmm4T7UzoG8JRgCLcBGAs/s1600/27659122_10156204461942244_1692857273_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="195" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZwKhYiwnbQY/WnshIJyOG4I/AAAAAAAAIcM/32p4uHqBr44jPgm2McCPmm4T7UzoG8JRgCLcBGAs/s320/27659122_10156204461942244_1692857273_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fieldy won the bottom section with loads of small fish for 6lb 15oz** </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M_KOjwUMbfI/WnshoBV7CXI/AAAAAAAAIcU/6RcOWbUq6LIzDDVqhuv-EAjx6WKQ7sUGgCLcBGAs/s1600/27718680_10156204459932244_738190832_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M_KOjwUMbfI/WnshoBV7CXI/AAAAAAAAIcU/6RcOWbUq6LIzDDVqhuv-EAjx6WKQ7sUGgCLcBGAs/s320/27718680_10156204459932244_738190832_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hurf had 6lb 14oz from 125**</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3ugg6XUCtI/Wnsh3VBtfXI/AAAAAAAAIcY/ORb2-b-n6I0dfXHnQNLZulX-YL2mh9_iQCLcBGAs/s1600/27718014_10156204459507244_24990568_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3ugg6XUCtI/Wnsh3VBtfXI/AAAAAAAAIcY/ORb2-b-n6I0dfXHnQNLZulX-YL2mh9_iQCLcBGAs/s320/27718014_10156204459507244_24990568_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terry had 2lb 14oz from peg 128**</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tcXLP9K2Lew/WnsjOb7T6HI/AAAAAAAAIco/rsGNmleQEEEAfblNDDaFJp9sv4ZUIxToACLcBGAs/s1600/27721514_10156204459567244_2037033557_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="195" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tcXLP9K2Lew/WnsjOb7T6HI/AAAAAAAAIco/rsGNmleQEEEAfblNDDaFJp9sv4ZUIxToACLcBGAs/s320/27721514_10156204459567244_2037033557_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linda had 1lb 15oz from peg 129**</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0E80d5Z8458/WnsjdLtY0II/AAAAAAAAIcs/_b5-UvfMFrIzzyGeb6JvBbLvBHBBEao6wCLcBGAs/s1600/27661728_10156204462042244_1070475832_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0E80d5Z8458/WnsjdLtY0II/AAAAAAAAIcs/_b5-UvfMFrIzzyGeb6JvBbLvBHBBEao6wCLcBGAs/s320/27661728_10156204462042244_1070475832_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Justin wasn't overly keen to be photographed with his 1lb 3oz!**</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It's amazing the difference a week makes, last weeks winning peg did 6lb 14oz, 124 only did 1lb 3oz and 128 did 2lb 14oz, all pegs people would have run to this morning and none of them picked up a bean! I bet there weren't many who would have fancied Stu's peg this morning, I must admit I thought Isle Brewers could be hard this morning but I thought Hambridge was going to be the place to draw so it just goes to show you never can tell. I reckon the bend just above 106 would hold fish and there's another swim just above that, also the bend below 120 holds a load of fish so they have got to be worth a try in the future.<br />
<br />
1 - Stuart Aplin (Ilminster) - 15lb 15oz<br />
2 - Steve Maynard (Cornwall) - 13lb 8oz<br />
3 - Martin Pallett (Newbury) - 9lb 2oz<br />
<br />
Sections<br />
A - Jamie Rich (Against Men and Fish) - 1lb 6oz<br />
B - Graham Field (Taunton) - 6lb 15oz<br />
<br />
I was really pleased for Stuart as it was his first Ilminster match win and it was also nice to see a couple of the new faces do well with Steve and Martin both framing and all four said they'd enjoyed themselves and want to come again.<br />
<br />
I've updated the list of framing pegs so far in the thirteen matches we've had on the river,<br />
<br />
120 - 8 times (won 2)<br />
126 - 5 times (won 2)<br />
128 - 5 times (won 1)<br />
110 - 4 times (won 2)<br />
125 - 4 times (won 2)<br />
124a - 3 times<br />
123 - 2 times (won 1)<br />
H1 - 3 times (won 1)<br />
128a - 2 times<br />
H4 - 1 time (won 1)<br />
106 - 1 time (won 1)<br />
125a - 1 time<br />
124 - 1 time<br />
<br />
We've had ten different winners so far with Frank Woodard, Adie Bishop and me the only anglers to win more than one match.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Next up</b></span> - River Isle<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Coming soon</b></span> - My next great review<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Check Out</b></span> - My last match (below)<br />
<br />
</div>
Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05206232197364552517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31509096.post-70119252336107855232018-01-30T22:00:00.001+00:002018-01-30T22:29:51.871+00:00River Isle - IBC Winter League 8 - 28th January 2018<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I popped down to have a look at the river on Saturday and it looked spot on with a tinge of colour and at Hambridge there were fish topping and with no rain of any consequence forecast, by the next day it should be fining down and perfect. The following morning I stopped at Horlicks to have a quick look and there was still some colour in it and all the signs were there for a good match. I got to the bowling club and after another nice breakfast, it was time for the draw, Adie went in the bucket early and pulled out peg 126 (I really should get him to pick my lottery numbers for me!), Terry 'The Toast' was on 125 which was full of fish last week before the river came up too much and league leader Jake drew peg 124.<br />
<br />
Elsewhere, Langport invader Baz Morgan was on 123, Frank was on H1 and young Stuart was on new peg, H3, which looked lovely and hopefully he'd get a few fish, with just one ball left in the bucket I wasn't sure what pegs were left that I fancied, I grabbed it and opened my fingers to reveal 128, that'll do, probably one of the best pegs on the river although it hasn't done much in recent matches. Steve 'The Pole' Parker was on 129 which was in for the first time in a while and I quite fancied it to do well today.<br />
<br />
We got to the river and parked up and I took my kit across to my swim and it looked a dream, I got my box level and as I started setting up, several small fish topped and I just knew I'd catch today. I only had time to set up a single rig, a 1.5 gram DH13 which I could fish at four sections to hand or stick on more sections to fish further out. On the side tray I had the usual bronze and red maggots, casters and Bait-Tech Super Seed hemp.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SmcFFZTGxcQ/Wm-0ZvMAG1I/AAAAAAAAIaE/TWhOGja5VJEzSLGufoPmj3iXgp3QzN9RACLcBGAs/s1600/27295059_10156182721987244_31957416_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="261" height="238" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SmcFFZTGxcQ/Wm-0ZvMAG1I/AAAAAAAAIaE/TWhOGja5VJEzSLGufoPmj3iXgp3QzN9RACLcBGAs/s320/27295059_10156182721987244_31957416_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The river was perfect</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The start time arrived and I flicked out the rig with double bronze maggot on the hook and fed some casters and hemp to my left, I started getting indications straight away but after a couple of minnows I was soon burying the hook inside a caster. The next bite resulted in a small roach being swung to hand and more followed along with the odd gudgeon (and minnows of course). It was a bite a chuck and as the first hour drew to a close, a few better sized fish started to show and I had to use the net a few times.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XNUGo6YJuZE/Wm-X6Mi3vJI/AAAAAAAAIZo/DfOY7UJlKvM2tSN1aORodR2ARB4pt8atQCLcBGAs/s1600/27394652_10156182721492244_1714496790_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="480" height="234" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XNUGo6YJuZE/Wm-X6Mi3vJI/AAAAAAAAIZo/DfOY7UJlKvM2tSN1aORodR2ARB4pt8atQCLcBGAs/s320/27394652_10156182721492244_1714496790_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I started getting some chunky roach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I finished the first hour with 28 fish (mainly roach with one dace and few gudgeon) for 2-3lb and it felt like the swim was full of fish as they were still topping all over the peg, the second hour was similar and I added another 27 fish but amongst the small roach I was getting the odd proper one and starting to build a decent weight.<br />
<br />
Around the half way point, Baz appeared behind me and said he was really struggling, he also reported that Jake was catching despite suffering a few pike problems and Terry was doing well in 125. I had a few small roach while he was with me before he went down to see how Steve P was doing. Just after he left I had a clonking roach and I was still getting a bite every put in, although I bumped a few and had one roach drop off as I tried swinging it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SG6I687GVo0/Wm-bBqAmeuI/AAAAAAAAIZ0/GFy0dqeiDFs35nKotpb5tqBArPPAElWgACLcBGAs/s1600/27400366_10156182720667244_2064052488_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SG6I687GVo0/Wm-bBqAmeuI/AAAAAAAAIZ0/GFy0dqeiDFs35nKotpb5tqBArPPAElWgACLcBGAs/s320/27400366_10156182720667244_2064052488_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The roach were getting bigger</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Baz got back and said Steve was catching a few small fish but struggling to get through the minnows, he left me to it and headed back to his peg. I added another 22 fish in hour three to put me on 77 for 7-8lb but bites had slowed down a little bit and I was starting to think I might have to go further out. I tried flicking the rig to my left and had a few better roach and started to catch well in spells and over the next hour added another 33 fish, my best period of the match so far.<br />
<br />
The last ninety minutes saw me add another 45 fish and at the end of the match my clicker was reading 155 fish which at an average of 1.5oz apiece would give me around 15lb although I hoped I had a bit more. I dread to think how many fish were in my peg today as they were still topping at the end of the match, I knew I'd done really well but I'd caught too many small roach to do a big weight. <br />
<br />
I packed up and walked down to weigh Steve in, he'd had a bit of a nightmare, he had 1lb 14oz of small fish but had lost a big fish which he'd played for 15 minutes and thought was a pike until a 7lb carp came to the top and rolled onto the hooklength, snapping it in the process! To make matters worse he lost a 4lb plus chub at the net and then later bumped off a smaller chub.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ESsCoywrUt0/WnDcosf4w1I/AAAAAAAAIaU/qhPxXjaiP5Yz--6JSLTh6WBY5Wlfzf6wwCLcBGAs/s1600/27399900_10156182719627244_1647901078_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ESsCoywrUt0/WnDcosf4w1I/AAAAAAAAIaU/qhPxXjaiP5Yz--6JSLTh6WBY5Wlfzf6wwCLcBGAs/s320/27399900_10156182719627244_1647901078_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve 'The Pole' had 1lb 14oz but had lost several big fish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Then it was my turn with Adie calling it at 16lb 5oz so it wasn't far off what I thought although I was actually hoping the bigger roach might have put it nearer to 20lb, just as I was returning the fish, Baz turned up and asked how I'd done. I told him and he said that puts me third in the section as Terry had weighed a fantastic 25lb 12oz and Jake wasn't far behind with 22lb 9oz! Baz had weighed 2lb 6oz which just left Adie who said he might have double figures, he also had a lovely net of fish and weighed 11lb 11oz. Thanks to Jake Woodard* and Terry Morgan** for the photos.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Iwm-L-X5W-w/WnDd0SRFC6I/AAAAAAAAIag/keoD1w7mxLcbfOXvL9ySqJz5utY7RitQACLcBGAs/s1600/27399436_10156182610667244_1431460480_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Iwm-L-X5W-w/WnDd0SRFC6I/AAAAAAAAIag/keoD1w7mxLcbfOXvL9ySqJz5utY7RitQACLcBGAs/s320/27399436_10156182610667244_1431460480_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">16lb 5oz of mainly roach, my best weight so far this campaign and it was only good enough for third in the section!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hJd1Fq_Ozos/WnDedAixwtI/AAAAAAAAIao/BcaupZF23rsmmOAOOS0pACtOoKoYZB0bQCLcBGAs/s1600/27294950_10156182610552244_94273572_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hJd1Fq_Ozos/WnDedAixwtI/AAAAAAAAIao/BcaupZF23rsmmOAOOS0pACtOoKoYZB0bQCLcBGAs/s320/27294950_10156182610552244_94273572_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adie had 11lb 11oz from 126 (I reckon his hat should start charging an appearance fee!) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eazyRvsC4Kg/WnDf8j2hrwI/AAAAAAAAIa0/96mMzhbB1ckPB8Znfb3o4u4OyYq_5Gj1wCLcBGAs/s1600/27495880_10156182610377244_1255464969_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eazyRvsC4Kg/WnDf8j2hrwI/AAAAAAAAIa0/96mMzhbB1ckPB8Znfb3o4u4OyYq_5Gj1wCLcBGAs/s320/27495880_10156182610377244_1255464969_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of Jakes 22lb 9oz*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_q_YQng7SXY/WnDgQErDMTI/AAAAAAAAIa4/6gsX7uMBCc4PO6tEcHCdslnbmdb1E9JigCLcBGAs/s1600/27496435_10156182609797244_249766576_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_q_YQng7SXY/WnDgQErDMTI/AAAAAAAAIa4/6gsX7uMBCc4PO6tEcHCdslnbmdb1E9JigCLcBGAs/s320/27496435_10156182609797244_249766576_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terry weighed a fantastic 25lb 12oz of quality roach and dace from peg 125**</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So I was hanging on to third spot but with the lads at Hambridge still to come back, there was a good chance that I might not even win the section money! I'd had a lovely days fishing but I'd have needed another 10lb to beat Terry! I did bump a few fish and missed quite a few bites but maybe I should have tried fishing further out as I know the peg holds chub but I've never hooked one in all the years I've fished the river and realistically as I was getting a bite a chuck, was it worth the risk, especially as double figures has been enough to win most weeks.<br />
<br />
Back at the results and Frank had the top weight at Hambridge with 7lb 7oz with Ben Simmonds and Fieldy close behind with 7lb 2oz and 6lb 10oz respectively, so although it hadn't fished as well as Isle Brewers, it was very close with ounces separating the top three. I was gutted for young Stuart who blanked on H3 although he did drop off a small fish and there were fish topping. So I hung on to third place and picked up £25 plus a nugget of Steve P. <br />
<br />
Today's match just shows what the river is capable of, even with a blank, the anglers averaged over 10lb a man and I honestly believe other sections would produce some brilliant weights if we fished them in the right conditions. Since Xmas I've weighed 8lb 10oz, 10lb 5oz, 11lb 10oz and 16lb 5oz all from different pegs, just fantastic fishing.<br />
<br />
1 - Terry Morgan (Ilminster) - 25lb 12oz<br />
2 - Jake Woodard (Ilminster) - 22lb 9oz<br />
3 - Jamie Rich (Against Men and Fish) - 16lb 5oz<br />
<br />
Sections<br />
A - Adie Bishop (Taunton) - 11lb 11oz<br />
B - Frank Woodard (Ilminster) - 7lb 7oz<br />
<br />
After eight matches and dropping the worst result, this is how the league looks so far,<br />
<br />
Jake Woodard - 14 pts (dropping 4)<br />
Adie Bishop - 17 pts (dropping 4)<br />
Jamie Rich - 17 pts (dropping 30)<br />
Graham Field - 20 pts (dropping 30)<br />
Frank Woodard - 35 pts (dropping 30)<br />
<br />
I've also updated the list of framing pegs so far in the twelve matches we've had on the river,<br />
<br />
120 - 7 times (won 2)<br />
126 - 5 times (won 2)<br />
128 - 5 times (won 1)<br />
110 - 4 times (won 2)<br />
125 - 4 times (won 2)<br />
124a - 3 times<br />
123 - 2 times (won 1)<br />
H1 - 2 times (won 1)<br />
128a - 2 times<br />
H4 - 1 time (won 1)<br />
125a - 1 time<br />
124 - 1 time<br />
<br />
We've had nine different winners so far with Frank Woodard, Adie Bishop and me the only anglers to win more than one match.<br />
<br />
I can't go without sharing some awesome feedback I received today on Facebook,<br />
<em>'Keep up the good work buddy, been reading the blog for over a year, probably one of the fishing highlights of the week'</em><br />
thanks Dan, it's comments like yours that make all the hard work worthwhile,<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Next up</b></span> - The Ilminster AA Open<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Coming soon</b></span> - My next great review<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Check Out</b></span> - My last match (below)</div>
Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05206232197364552517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31509096.post-66726348923722550902018-01-22T17:56:00.000+00:002018-01-22T17:56:17.470+00:00River Isle - V.E.S. Precision League 6 - 21st January 2018<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This week was the penultimate round of the V.E.S. Precision league and with Adie having a four point lead he was looking good to win the league for the second year running. Mathematically it was still feasible to catch him although he'd have to blow out big style in the two remaining rounds and I just couldn't see it happening. I popped down to have a look at the river on Saturday and it looked perfect with a bit of pace and a tinge of colour. At Hambridge I had a walk down as far as the weir which didn't look as good as I'd hoped it would although there was a cracking swim where the mill leat joined the main river and will definitely be worth a try at some point.<br />
<br />
I woke up Sunday morning and it was raining although nothing too heavy but I stopped at Horlicks to have a look on my way to the draw and it still looked really good so as long as we didn't have too much rain we should be in for a good match (famous last words!). Along with the regulars, it was nice to see Justin Charles for the first time this year. I announced the draw and Adie was first into the bucket and his drawing arm continues to be on fire as he drew last weeks winner, H1 below Hambridge. Steve 'The Pole' pulled out H2, Justin was on Barney's Bend and Terry 'The Toast' drew 128.<br />
<br />
With just two balls left, Harry stuck his hand in the bucket and pulled out H4 which left me with 125, normally a decent peg but with colour on it, a brilliant peg! As we left the bowling club, it was chucking it down and as we headed to Isle Brewers there was a fair bit of water about. I parked up and had a look at the river which looked spot on, Terry, Karl and Stu weren't as impressed which prompted me, rather rashly, to bet Karl I'd catch 20lb today! My peg is just above the bridge so a nice short walk, the banks were really slippery but I got my box in place with no problems.<br />
<br />
I set up a 0.2 gram Drennan AS1 to fish three sections to hand running the rig through and a 1 gram bodied float for holding back and also in case the river came up and I had to go across where there was some steadier water. On the side tray I had bronze and red maggots, casters and Bait-Tech Super Seed hemp. The match got underway and I started at three sections to hand with double bronze maggot on the hook, I had a gudgeon second run through then a dace before I had to use the landing net for a 10oz chublet. The next couple of fish were minnows so I switched to caster and the next fish was a good roach and it was a bite a chuck.<br />
<br />
About ten past ten, Justin appeared behind me to ask what time we were starting as he thought we were kicking off at quarter past! I told him we'd started at ten and that I had the best part of 2lb already, so he headed back to get his match started! I carried on catching and had a brilliant first hour, putting 32 roach, dace, chublets and gudgeon in the net for probably 4-5lb. It was still chucking it down and I was soaked already as was all my kit. I was feeding casters and hemp upstream in the middle and also flicking a few across to the far side. There were obviously loads of fish in the peg and I always find it amazing that as soon as the river has some colour in it, quality roach start to show in numbers, they're obviously there but just don't show when the river is low and clear.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1e1UaNPILxY/WmYdaDn62tI/AAAAAAAAIY4/wdW42dVkuvUsLSk4ki9gqmZ3pLEGroyvACLcBGAs/s1600/27292210_10156158778662244_1094703259_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1e1UaNPILxY/WmYdaDn62tI/AAAAAAAAIY4/wdW42dVkuvUsLSk4ki9gqmZ3pLEGroyvACLcBGAs/s320/27292210_10156158778662244_1094703259_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I started getting some lovely roach</td></tr>
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After 90 minutes I was up to 48 fish for probably 7-8lb and I started to think a really big weight was on the cards but I was also concerned that the rain wasn't letting up and if anything it was getting heavier! I had a couple more nice chublets but I'd also bumped two or three better fish and going into the third hour, it was noticeable that the flow was picking up. I started catching fish just off my keepnet but bites were slowing up, I stuck the plummet on and the swim was now six inches deeper than when I started! I deepened up and went back to fishing double bronze maggot and had another run of fish but the river was now rising at an alarming rate.<br />
<br />
With the middle of the peg now unfishable, it was time to try across, I went over with the lighter rig, the float buried and what felt like a good roach, shook it's head before the hook pulled out, I had a small roach next chuck but the light rig wasn't right so I went over with the heavier float and had a nice roach quite quickly. Paul Adams turned up to see how we were getting on and I missed a good bite on caster while he was there and that turned out to be the last of the action as the river rose even more and some big branches and other debris started coming down in the flow. Terry 'The Toast' arrived with about an hour to go and said he'd packed up but had left his net in, he said Justin was still getting odd fish.<br />
<br />
I gave it another half an hour before packing up, I walked up to weigh Stuart in and 'The Perch Master' had done it again and caught another nice stripy along with a chublet and a few bits for 1lb 9oz, his brother Karl just pipped him with 1lb 15oz from peg 124. Then we got to my peg and my 86 roach, dace, chublets and gudgeon (plus minnows) went 11lb 10oz, I paid Karl his pound although it might have been a different story if we hadn't had all that rain and I think 30lb was possible from my peg today.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tske2i0QM7o/WmYdnUlhJVI/AAAAAAAAIY8/72EKDm2bfAsSeK-uDt-XxX644WDObkm_gCLcBGAs/s1600/27157423_10156158778602244_1035439608_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tske2i0QM7o/WmYdnUlhJVI/AAAAAAAAIY8/72EKDm2bfAsSeK-uDt-XxX644WDObkm_gCLcBGAs/s320/27157423_10156158778602244_1035439608_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My peg at the end of the match, just slightly up and coloured!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xyZJ3oSDlkc/WmYf2B0tlRI/AAAAAAAAIZI/AeAwsQFVUKY0X2snLJqfd1JYAw853-pSgCLcBGAs/s1600/27157004_10156158775967244_1281499017_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xyZJ3oSDlkc/WmYf2B0tlRI/AAAAAAAAIZI/AeAwsQFVUKY0X2snLJqfd1JYAw853-pSgCLcBGAs/s320/27157004_10156158775967244_1281499017_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another nice stripy for The Perch Master</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RFQc1ipo0-c/WmYgBVAmvVI/AAAAAAAAIZM/aPSiBXOzqPc27e5wlaNiLwWTaEObXSA2gCLcBGAs/s1600/27043229_10156158775362244_1239918448_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RFQc1ipo0-c/WmYgBVAmvVI/AAAAAAAAIZM/aPSiBXOzqPc27e5wlaNiLwWTaEObXSA2gCLcBGAs/s320/27043229_10156158775362244_1239918448_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karl earned the bagging rights over his brother this week</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jiXiBojK0GY/WmYgPmt18sI/AAAAAAAAIZQ/pop5NGN4MssnA-Uxm1-kDRzkN5iGg2S3wCLcBGAs/s1600/27042797_10156158775042244_2098297805_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jiXiBojK0GY/WmYgPmt18sI/AAAAAAAAIZQ/pop5NGN4MssnA-Uxm1-kDRzkN5iGg2S3wCLcBGAs/s320/27042797_10156158775042244_2098297805_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My 11lb 10oz (in three hours) was enough for my first win of the year</td></tr>
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Below the bridge, Justin had 7lb 6oz from peg 126 and Terry had 3lb 12oz from 128 so I was still in the lead although I thought somebody at Hambridge might beat me as they would have had another hours fishing before all the extra water arrived. Back at results and when Adie got back he said he was top down there with 6lb 13oz and Steve P second with 3lb 14.5oz, Harry didn't weigh but he had caught a nice perch and some bits. So I'd won and picked up £50 plus a nugget from Steve, with Adie scoring one point today he's got one hand on the league title leaving me and Steve to battle it out for second and third.<br />
<br />
1 - Jamie Rich (Against Men and Fish) - 11lb 10oz<br />
2 - Justin Charles (Ilminster) - 7lb 6oz<br />
3 - Adie Bishop (Taunton) - 6lb 13oz<br />
<br />
I totally hold my hands up and say I got it wrong today and we should have fished the pond, the trouble is there's such a fine line between a perfect river and an unfishable one, we very rarely fish the river with colour on it as it's normally switched to the pond well in advance. It's also looking like opportunities to fish the river next season will be few and far between anyway but more of that later.<br />
<br />
After six matches and dropping the worst result, this is how the league looks so far,<br />
<br />
Adie Bishop - 6 pts (dropping 4)<br />
Steve Parker - 9 pts (dropping 4)<br />
Jamie Rich - 10 pts (dropping 3)<br />
Karl Aplin - 16 pts (dropping 20)<br />
Stu Aplin - 20 pts (dropping 20)<br />
<br />
I've also updated the list of framing pegs so far in the eleven matches we've had on the river,<br />
<br />
120 - 7 times (won 2)<br />
126 - 5 times (won 2)<br />
110 - 4 times (won 2)<br />
128 - 4 times (won 1)<br />
125 - 3 times (won 1)<br />
124a - 3 times<br />
123 - 2 times (won 1)<br />
H1 - 2 times (won 1)<br />
128a - 2 times<br />
H4 - 1 time (won 1)<br />
125a - 1 time<br />
<br />
We've had eight different winners so far with Frank Woodard, Adie Bishop and me the only anglers to win more than one match.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Next up</b></span> - River Isle<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Coming soon</b></span> - My next review<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Check Out</b></span> - My latest review (below)</div>
Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05206232197364552517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31509096.post-31571442531840738492018-01-20T21:54:00.000+00:002018-01-23T21:24:58.617+00:00MThooks2tie Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Back when I was youngster (many moons ago!), you basically had two choices as far as hooks to nylon were concerned, you either bought packets of ready tied hooks or you tied your own. In those days, ready tied hooks were of dubious quality, you were limited to what hook/line combinations you could buy and they were nearly all twelve inches in length. Sometimes the line would come off the back of the spade or the knot would be halfway down the shank and if you were anything like me, half the packet would get thrown away as you could never unravel them without getting in a right pickle! To be fair, things have improved massively and now firms like Drennan and Guru have fantastic ranges of pre-tied hooks.</div>
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The other option was to tie your own and around that time Drennan and Kamasan (Kamatsu then if I remember correctly) had just released the first chemically sharpened hooks in the UK. I bought a Matchman hooktyer and spent hours tying various combinations of Drennan Carbon Caster, Carbon Match and Fine Match hooks to different strengths of Bayer Perlon line, usually 1.7lb or 1.1lb breaking strains. They were all carefully looped up before being put into paper envelopes and then stored in a hooklength wallet. Looking back, I’m sure I tied up some combinations I never even used and probably, much like now, there were only a handful of patterns I used regularly.<br />
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Over the next couple of decades, not that much changed really, hook wallets were replaced by hooklength boxes and the quality of bought pre-tied hooklengths came on in leaps and bounds but that was about it. But match fishing was becoming steadily more professional with big money competitions and festivals and if you are on Facebook regularly, it seems like most match anglers are fishing three times a week and sometimes more! With the popularity of commercials going through the roof and the pellet revolution taking off and then the knotless knot, all of a sudden, the humble hooklength was suddenly anything but with people tying up various hair rigs using lassos, bands and bait spikes among other new innovations.<br />
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I’m not sure who first offered the service but some enterprising soul started offering to tie hooklengths for a small fee. I honestly thought when I first saw such a service on Facebook that it would never take off, it was the height of laziness and surely there would only be a handful of people who could afford, want or need such an extravagance. Since then it’s snowballed and there are several on Facebook who offer this service. Now I only fish once a week, sometimes twice if I’m lucky so I don’t get through loads and loads of hooklengths but thought I would order some to see what all the fuss is about.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/412408452492837/?ref=br_rs" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.facebook.com/groups/412408452492837/?ref=br_rs" border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BM5qv8QrZDY/WmO5DzTL-5I/AAAAAAAAIYk/Pxn4dRqTK6Ip36gS1D_BuD0UImjRZjReACLcBGAs/s320/25446227_354325495035726_2845593942692660531_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I came across MThooks2tie on Facebook and ordered some of the hooks I use the most on the Isle, Kamasan B611 size 18 to 0.10mm Silstar Matchteam, twelve inches in length to fit my Guru hooklength box. I was kept up to date on how my order was doing and when they were posted, they arrived shortly after in ‘top up’ bags, the first thing I noticed was that all the hooks were in a little piece of foam, what a fantastic idea to protect the hooks and stop them getting tangled up. They were all tied neatly with the line coming off the front of the spade and with a tiny loop on the other end. They were all uniform in length and fitted perfectly in my Guru box.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3NCOMAJ-gcE/WmO4ZKXBBAI/AAAAAAAAIYc/7wIfBbnzI3srcaQdqKm7EECXLNFmaYCtACEwYBhgL/s1600/26996431_10156154200032244_429543463_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="373" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3NCOMAJ-gcE/WmO4ZKXBBAI/AAAAAAAAIYc/7wIfBbnzI3srcaQdqKm7EECXLNFmaYCtACEwYBhgL/s320/26996431_10156154200032244_429543463_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My order</td></tr>
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Prices are very reasonable but obviously vary depending on your order, just send him a message via his Facebook page for a quote</div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/412408452492837/?ref=br_rs">https://www.facebook.com/groups/412408452492837/?ref=br_rs</a></o:p></span></div>
You can order your hooks in a box or on spools and Marc offers all the main firms like Guru, Preston and Ringers or you can just order your preferred combination of hooks, line and bands or spikes etc to come in top up bags.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dIHvKfy4w6M/WmO5OHbN-9I/AAAAAAAAIYo/4QkWRQ7o_78OChJ7GGpn9uchjzIvbkXrACLcBGAs/s1600/25994975_356264471508495_5067445167264126864_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dIHvKfy4w6M/WmO5OHbN-9I/AAAAAAAAIYo/4QkWRQ7o_78OChJ7GGpn9uchjzIvbkXrACLcBGAs/s320/25994975_356264471508495_5067445167264126864_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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MThooks2tie offer a great, reasonably priced service and I will certainly be using them again, especially when it comes to smaller hooks and finer lines as my eyesight isn’t getting any better!<br />
</div>
Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05206232197364552517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31509096.post-69762538161153094092018-01-16T20:53:00.001+00:002018-01-16T20:53:36.547+00:00River Isle - IBC Winter League 7 - 14th January 2018<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It got cold in the week and with hardly any rain, the river was back to being low and clear and with eleven booked in we'd have to use Hambridge again but how would it fish this week? We hadn't had a frost and it actually felt fairly mild which hopefully was a good sign. I got to the bowling club for the draw and along with the regulars, it was great to see Ben Simmonds again and it's always lovely to see Terry 'The Toast'.<br />
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Between me, Steve P and Baz we sorted out the pegs, pools and boards etc and when everybody had finished eating, it was time to draw. I was holding the bucket of hope and as people started pulling out pegs there was the usual array of face pulling as the anglers expressed their delight or disgust. Baz finally got his wish (after 104 years of fishing the Isle) as he'd drawn 128 for the first time, Big Frank was on 126, Steve P pulled out 125 and young Stu had the choice of 124 or 124a. Adie drew 120 and despite saying he didn't want it, I fancied it to do well, Terry and Fieldy were on 108 and 110 at Redbridge and as they hadn't been in for a while it would be interesting to see how they fished.<br />
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Ben, Jake and Karl were at Hambridge which just left one ball in the bucket and I pulled out 123 which wouldn't have been my first choice. Frank won off it with over 18lb in one of the early matches but it hasn't done much since, it's just one of those pegs I can never seem to get on with although it did nearly 5lb last week so at least I should get a few bites.<br />
<br />
We got to the river and Stu had a look at 124a and 124 but decided on the latter which I thought might have been a mistake as it hasn't produced the last couple of times it was fished. My peg looked really nice and I could get my box in quite low to the water. I set up a 1 gram bodied float to fish down the middle and a 0.6 gram DH16 for fishing across where there were two bits of cover which would hopefully hold a chub or two. On the menu for the day were the usual bronze and red maggots, casters and Bait-Tech Super Seed hemp.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-__ETUmEKyuk/Wl0ynmoovfI/AAAAAAAAIXQ/kKsabblpOVQW98Tgm5Rf_XqCGET3XWhPgCLcBGAs/s1600/26855821_10156137554052244_614003083_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-__ETUmEKyuk/Wl0ynmoovfI/AAAAAAAAIXQ/kKsabblpOVQW98Tgm5Rf_XqCGET3XWhPgCLcBGAs/s320/26855821_10156137554052244_614003083_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peg 123</td></tr>
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On the whistle I started with the heavier rig and two red maggots at 8.5 metres down the middle, feeding casters and hemp just upstream and also across but I wanted to leave that as long as possible before trying it. Second run through, the float buried and a fair bit of elastic came out before I netted a nice chublet of 8oz or so, next chuck I had a small dace come off as I shipped back and it felt like there were a few fish there so I thought I'd try two sections to hand. I had a small roach quite quickly but the next few bites resulted in minnows so I stuck another section on to inch the float through just this side of the main flow and tried a caster for the first time. The float buried and the strike met with a pleasing amount of resistance and I netted a decent roach.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FH4lBC9gxcY/Wl00-4mPk5I/AAAAAAAAIXc/Ia9bo51Z6yomJKWLSfuB9WYs672LM6CoACLcBGAs/s1600/26803917_10156137553207244_161028637_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FH4lBC9gxcY/Wl00-4mPk5I/AAAAAAAAIXc/Ia9bo51Z6yomJKWLSfuB9WYs672LM6CoACLcBGAs/s320/26803917_10156137553207244_161028637_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I started getting some nice roach</td></tr>
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It was a bite a chuck and I was catching small roach, dace and gudgeon with the odd better roach and quite a few minnows (which I didn't count) and after an hour I had 20 fish for around 3lb. The second sixty minutes was similar and I added another 15 fish for 2lb or so and was really enjoying myself and I was sure a chub would put in an appearance sooner or later. Going into the third hour, bites started to slow and I was catching quite a few gudgeon so I went a section further over and had a brief flurry of fish including a couple of nice roach although I bumped one and had one come off shipping back. <br />
<br />
With three and a half hours gone, bites had slowed right up so it was time to pick up the other rig and go across to the far bank for the first time, the flow was going back on itself and I tried holding back and inching it through but it just wasn't quite right and after ten minutes I hadn't had a proper indication and felt like I was wasting my time. I swung the rig towards the far bank on my left just off some dead reeds, I knew I was well overdepth but I started getting bites again and had several roach including a couple of net fish.<br />
<br />
A chap called Chris who's a regular reader of the blog turned up and said he'd just come from Redbridge and he hadn't seen them catch a lot, he stayed for a bit and I had several roach while he was there but because I was so far overdepth, a couple of times I didn't see the bites and as I lifted the pole up, there was a fish on! He left me to it and went to see how the others were doing, I plumbed up again and shallowed the rig up but bizarrely, then I couldn't get a bite! I added a few inches and started catching again, including some lovely roach.<br />
<br />
Chris got back and said the two below the bridge (Frank and Baz) were winkling out some small fish before wishing me luck for the last half an hour, it was nice to meet him again and as always it's lovely when people say they enjoy reading the blog, cheers mate! I had a few more roach including a couple of proper clonkers around 10-12oz and ended up with 77 fish (plus loads of minnows) and I was hoping if they averaged 2oz apiece I wouldn't be far off double figures.<br />
<br />
I packed up and walked down to give Stu a hand with the scales, he said he'd had a cracking day catching two big perch, two chub plus quite a few roach. We started the weigh in with Steve who had 2lb 14oz which included some nice roach, then we got to Stu and he had a lovely bag of fish, out of interest we weighed the perch on it's own and at 2lb 2oz it was a new pb for him, altogether he weighed 9lb 11oz and it was going to be close between me and him. He also had some pike trouble which has cost him some fish today but he had really enjoyed himself and made the right choice of peg this morning.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rcPGdlllNuk/Wl1BWczDhbI/AAAAAAAAIXs/iIo1DqlWl8AnXl-zBvT8v_xBPluEYZZvACLcBGAs/s1600/26855808_10156137552567244_1092980147_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rcPGdlllNuk/Wl1BWczDhbI/AAAAAAAAIXs/iIo1DqlWl8AnXl-zBvT8v_xBPluEYZZvACLcBGAs/s320/26855808_10156137552567244_1092980147_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve had 2lb 14oz which included some nice roach</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x8xld7Z_CWI/Wl1Bn_A__1I/AAAAAAAAIXw/izV1sfcZu1IJrkMIjHhJ-1v5NLjGQT05ACLcBGAs/s1600/26857508_10156137549897244_1471549317_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x8xld7Z_CWI/Wl1Bn_A__1I/AAAAAAAAIXw/izV1sfcZu1IJrkMIjHhJ-1v5NLjGQT05ACLcBGAs/s320/26857508_10156137549897244_1471549317_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stuart had a lovely net of fish weighing 9lb 11oz from peg 124</td></tr>
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We walked up to me and when I pulled my net out, I knew it was going to be really tight and was relieved when the needle swung past 10lb and Stuart called it a 10lb 5oz. We got back to the cars as Frank and Baz arrived, they'd weighed 4lb 15oz and 6lb 10oz respectively although Frank said he'd spoken to Jake at Hambridge who'd had 15lb odd and Ben had 10lb something from H4 so I was down to third and we hadn't heard how they'd done at Redbridge yet!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fa9CfBwDA7M/Wl1KCHkaqFI/AAAAAAAAIYA/RZXtTcwO33kbRxJePoDy3MxDaxvYjFp0QCLcBGAs/s1600/26856012_10156137549827244_243776384_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fa9CfBwDA7M/Wl1KCHkaqFI/AAAAAAAAIYA/RZXtTcwO33kbRxJePoDy3MxDaxvYjFp0QCLcBGAs/s320/26856012_10156137549827244_243776384_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had bites all day to weigh 10lb 5oz</td></tr>
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Back at the results and as people started handing me the weigh boards, I saw that Ben had actually weighed a level 10lb so had I sneaked second place?, no was the answer because Adie had weighed 11lb 15oz from the ever consistent 120, Fieldy had 3lb 2oz from peg 110, apparently he had a chub early and then had nothing for the rest of the match and Terry 'The Toast' had a chub late from 108 to weigh 4lb 5oz. Karl was the other angler at Hambridge and weighed 4lb 6oz despite suffering from pike trouble, he even landed four of the toothy critters! Thanks to Jake Woodard for the photos*<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wtw8OqMhOP4/Wl1Ki2MP6KI/AAAAAAAAIYI/YQEkfGC7_Y07yWfg7UVsV_I2RdXh7lufwCLcBGAs/s1600/26803699_10156137534152244_1730422035_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wtw8OqMhOP4/Wl1Ki2MP6KI/AAAAAAAAIYI/YQEkfGC7_Y07yWfg7UVsV_I2RdXh7lufwCLcBGAs/s320/26803699_10156137534152244_1730422035_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rather blurry Jake had a lovely net of roach to win with 15lb 3oz*</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hsn7hJNDe6U/Wl1KymlmK7I/AAAAAAAAIYM/8o3VLYy8XmYK1TetX5D96nySyJUqyUUPgCLcBGAs/s1600/26940943_10156137534342244_1127210343_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hsn7hJNDe6U/Wl1KymlmK7I/AAAAAAAAIYM/8o3VLYy8XmYK1TetX5D96nySyJUqyUUPgCLcBGAs/s320/26940943_10156137534342244_1127210343_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben had a nice day catching10lb of roach and perch on the waggler from H4</td></tr>
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So I ended up third again and picked up £23 plus the all important nugget off of Steve and I have to say I really enjoyed today, I've had bites all day and it feels like there's a lot of fish in the river at the moment, I bet pegs 122 and 129 would have fished today. I also think a few pegs lower down at Hambridge would fish as well, might be worth looking at for the next IBC match.<br />
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1 - Jake Woodard (Ilminster) - 15lb 3oz<br />
2 - Adie Bishop (Taunton) - 11lb 15oz<br />
3 - Jamie Rich (Against Men and Fish) - 10lb 5oz<br />
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Sections<br />
A - Stuart Aplin (Ilminster) - 9lb 11oz<br />
B - Ben Simmonds (Ilminster) - 10lb<br />
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After seven matches and dropping the worst result, this is how the league looks so far,<br />
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Jake Woodard - 12 pts (dropping 4)<br />
Adie Bishop - 13 pts (dropping 4)<br />
Jamie Rich - 14 pts (dropping 30)<br />
Graham Field - 17 pts (dropping 30)<br />
Stuart Aplin - 27 pts (dropping 30)<br />
Frank Woodard - 34 pts (dropping 30)<br />
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I've also updated the list of framing pegs so far in the ten matches we've had on the river,<br />
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120 - 7 times (won 2)<br />
110 - 4 times (won 2)<br />
128 - 4 times (won 1)<br />
126 - 4 times (won 2)<br />
123 - 2 times (won 1)<br />
128a - 2 times<br />
H4 - 1 time (won 1)<br />
H1 - 1 time (won 1)<br />
124a - 3 times<br />
125 - 2 times<br />
125a - 1 time<br />
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I might actually tweak the format of this a bit to actually reflect how many times a peg has been used because as it stands it doesn't really show how consistent a peg has been, for example, H1 has only been in twice and won once compared to say 125 which has been used several times but only framed twice so maybe I'll have a play around with percentages.<br />
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We've had eight different winners so far with Frank Woodard and Adie Bishop the only anglers to win more than one match.<br />
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<strong>Hurf asked me to remind people that it's Ilminster AA's AGM at the bowling club on Friday 23rd February at 7:30pm.</strong><br />
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Lastly I've got some really exciting news regarding big changes coming to the blog soon, I can't say too much yet but all will become clear soon enough. I've got lots planned for this year including some great competitions and collaborations so please keep reading and get in touch with catch reports, photos and guest blogs.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Next up</b></span> - River Isle<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Coming soon</b></span> - My next trip down memory lane<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Check Out</b></span> - My latest guest post (below)</div>
Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05206232197364552517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31509096.post-25387664590405576822018-01-11T13:00:00.000+00:002018-01-11T13:00:15.502+00:00Fishing In France - Baz Morgan - Part 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My latest guest blog is part 3 of the Fishing in France series by Baz Morgan, what a brilliant looking venue!</div>
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Canal de la Dive</div>
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For the purpose of this article I will deal with the section of canal that runs south of Breze, Epieds and Le Motte Bourbon, from here the canal runs north west to join the River Thouet just outside of Saumur.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CvBtjDd7Gmw/WlaeTAQ17UI/AAAAAAAAIWY/-Cvho8YUyAMd6V-AA4lEzHEYwjGpV1-PACEwYBhgL/s1600/26753993_10156127043167244_1539383295_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="480" height="238" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CvBtjDd7Gmw/WlaeTAQ17UI/AAAAAAAAIWY/-Cvho8YUyAMd6V-AA4lEzHEYwjGpV1-PACEwYBhgL/s320/26753993_10156127043167244_1539383295_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I decided a few years ago to fish for barbel on the mighty River Loire, I have had some success but will deal with that in a later article.<br />
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We rent the same cottage each year and it serves our purpose well and the owners are really helpful. Not far from the cottage is the canal de la Dive, first sight of the canal was less than inspiring, narrow maybe 10 to 12 metres and about a metre deep even shallower in places and fairly weedy. However out for a stroll one evening with ' She who I must obey ' I was very interested to see a lot of chub between a pound and two pounds and also a couple of barbel of about 5lbs. To be honest I didn't fancy fishing it much due to it being so gin clear, this was in September and the Loire was in perfect nick so I ignored the canal.<br />
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When we returned the following June with me looking forward to another week fishing the Loire I was in for a shock! The Loire with a metre of extra water on it is frankly scary, even the 'slacks' were more like treacherous whirlpools with tree trunks eddying round! It was only now my attention turned to the canal, gone was the low clear version I remembered replaced by an up and coloured version with quite a pace. With the river out I found a mini slack in a bridgehole but even holding back hard and feeding with a dropper it was 2 hours before a 3oz chublet decided to co operate and then I had a few roach and bleak and finally a chub about 1 1/2lbs.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1PX5c-4lSNM/WlafHOt3utI/AAAAAAAAIWk/0P4uIPPbY5Ay0z2AbEHA8J2B7BLEnK3bACLcBGAs/s1600/26803232_10156127041122244_1844939833_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="480" height="238" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1PX5c-4lSNM/WlafHOt3utI/AAAAAAAAIWk/0P4uIPPbY5Ay0z2AbEHA8J2B7BLEnK3bACLcBGAs/s320/26803232_10156127041122244_1844939833_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It was obvious the river was out for the rest of the week so not knowing much about local stillwaters I fished the canal most evenings. It must be the match angler in me because despite how hard this canal was at times I was enjoying it, just sheer bloody-mindedness to catch, bit by bit the flow eased and the colour dropped out a bit and it improved a little, my best fish was a barbel of about 3lbs, but I got smashed up good and proper one evening. Its always good to have a back up venue and this is at least somewhere to go if the river is out! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--P97BRZVGkA/Wlae3OVYLdI/AAAAAAAAIWg/of71CjA6uo8dFf9qb3S9pH2Okif6rR_yACLcBGAs/s1600/26755136_10156126818887244_606768051_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="480" height="238" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--P97BRZVGkA/Wlae3OVYLdI/AAAAAAAAIWg/of71CjA6uo8dFf9qb3S9pH2Okif6rR_yACLcBGAs/s320/26755136_10156126818887244_606768051_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It certainly looks like a fair and uniform venue!</td></tr>
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I think also its the variety that keeps me interested, species list to date, roach, rudd, skimmers, hybrids, dace, barbel, bleak, tench, crucians, carassio, sun perch, gudgeon, ruffe, chub, poisson chat, also heard that there are carp, pike, eels and silure present. If this sort of fishing is not for you and the river is out well there's always a decent bottle of red in nearby Champigny, Bourgueil or Chinon to drown your sorrows. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DwVY3QfP3Sw/WlafbsUi8kI/AAAAAAAAIWs/Yr7shKYgU3MQsBS5NUl4UIqnYc8hwke6wCLcBGAs/s1600/26696482_10156127040902244_396990801_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="480" height="238" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DwVY3QfP3Sw/WlafbsUi8kI/AAAAAAAAIWs/Yr7shKYgU3MQsBS5NUl4UIqnYc8hwke6wCLcBGAs/s320/26696482_10156127040902244_396990801_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baz with a nice barbel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xoqM8kHkbfU/Wlafo7NfYYI/AAAAAAAAIWw/NEPtzwT_gmIofph_kBh6I2Rv_r0hkjAJgCLcBGAs/s1600/26754446_10156127040437244_1389595538_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="480" height="238" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xoqM8kHkbfU/Wlafo7NfYYI/AAAAAAAAIWw/NEPtzwT_gmIofph_kBh6I2Rv_r0hkjAJgCLcBGAs/s320/26754446_10156127040437244_1389595538_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">French tench!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_xDT-01_fhk/Wlaf_IVGZpI/AAAAAAAAIW4/O9b6gyeD6eUEgGCMqZ32Q6giaZnGPJkIgCLcBGAs/s1600/26793614_10156126903347244_209381617_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="480" height="238" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_xDT-01_fhk/Wlaf_IVGZpI/AAAAAAAAIW4/O9b6gyeD6eUEgGCMqZ32Q6giaZnGPJkIgCLcBGAs/s320/26793614_10156126903347244_209381617_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sun perch?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c0RZTEeHpgs/WlagH2Oe4xI/AAAAAAAAIXA/5IoYLAYzOUokiTq4SvV73vTN2UveutHsACLcBGAs/s1600/26855858_10156126819592244_2042203888_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="480" height="238" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c0RZTEeHpgs/WlagH2Oe4xI/AAAAAAAAIXA/5IoYLAYzOUokiTq4SvV73vTN2UveutHsACLcBGAs/s320/26855858_10156126819592244_2042203888_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby barbel and quality roach</td></tr>
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Tightlines Baz.</div>
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Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05206232197364552517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31509096.post-89281105251793595452018-01-08T20:02:00.001+00:002018-01-09T12:28:01.770+00:00River Isle - V.E.S. Precision League 5 - 7th January 2018<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
With the river really high during the week I thought we'd be back on the pond again but not too much of the wet stuff as we approached the weekend and it started to look like we might actually get on the Isle. I popped down on Saturday and it looked lovely with a tinge of colour and pace although the forecast was for it to get really cold overnight which wouldn't do us any favours and for added joy, I'd been struck down with a life threatening strain of man flu!<br />
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It was certainly chilly in the morning but not as cold as I thought it was going to be, I got to the bowling club for the draw and we had a slightly depleted turnout although we did have another new face as Somerset Angling superstar Steve Kedge was joining us for the day. With the two pegs below Hambridge in for the first time this series, everybody wanted to draw there as they were expected to fish well and of course Kedgie pulled out H1, the first one below and we were sure it would be game over! I pulled out peg 124a again and although I was second off it last time with 5lb 12oz, I was expecting the river to fish a lot better this time around.<br />
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Elsewhere, Adie's drawing arm continues to be on fire as he pulled out 126 again, Langport invader Baz Morgan drew 125, Karl was on 128 and Rob drew 123. Parker had pulled out H4 above the bridge at Hambridge and there was a good chance he'd take a nugget off me today. I got to the river and was pleased to see the colour hadn't dropped out completely and thought we'd be in for a good day. I did pop up to have a look at 124 as I had the choice but as I approached something dived underwater as I got there and I don't know whether it was a bird or one of our furry friends so I decided to stick with my original choice.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qvccFrYbWQI/WlNaxXjZdeI/AAAAAAAAIVE/EkWWUBaUu2MsfA2LDAW2dTdtvWKXhbPcACLcBGAs/s1600/26694841_10156118593627244_19810272_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qvccFrYbWQI/WlNaxXjZdeI/AAAAAAAAIVE/EkWWUBaUu2MsfA2LDAW2dTdtvWKXhbPcACLcBGAs/s320/26694841_10156118593627244_19810272_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bit more water on than the last time I drew it</td></tr>
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I set up the same two rigs as last time, a 1 gram bodied float to fish the deeper water in the middle of the peg and a 0.6 gram DH16 for fishing across and down the peg in the shallower water, there was a bit more pace on it and the flow on the far side was coming back on itself but I still fancied it as a couple of fish topped as I was setting up. On the side tray I had the usual maggots, casters and Bait-Tech Super Seed hemp.<br />
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I started with the heavier rig down the middle at 8.5 metres but it was going through a bit too quickly so I added a section and as I inched the float through, it buried and a 2oz roach took my double red maggot hookbait to get me off the mark, two smaller ones followed and I could see Baz was catching as well so I shouted down that they were having a go today. I should have known better as my next fish was a minnow so I switched to caster and had a nice roach straight away but then I was getting loads of little knocks which I was sure were minnows as the caster was coming back with just the end nipped off.<br />
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I had a couple of gudgeon but after a promising start I was now struggling, I could see Baz slipping his landing net out on a regular basis but he said they were only small chublets that he was netting because he was sat high up (they didn't look that small to me!). I had some steadier water on the inside and had been flicking a few casters down there so gave it a go and had yet another minnow but then my next fish was nice roach and I thought I'd cracked it but it was a one off. <br />
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I was feeding casters across where I'd caught the two chub last time but didn't want to go over too soon so plugged away catching gudgeon and the odd decent roach. Baz was pulling away and already had around twenty five fish. Nick Payne arrived for walk and went up to see Rob, when he came back he reported that he was catching small fish well, while he was with me I only added a gudgeon to my meagre tally and as the wind was rather keen he soon left me to it and headed for the sanctuary of his nice warm car.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MhGnwG468X0/WlOvp0iA9OI/AAAAAAAAIVU/bIrxio_f6RwY82o9pKdEnFkxPiEa1iPUQCLcBGAs/s1600/26694094_10156118592987244_223920727_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MhGnwG468X0/WlOvp0iA9OI/AAAAAAAAIVU/bIrxio_f6RwY82o9pKdEnFkxPiEa1iPUQCLcBGAs/s320/26694094_10156118592987244_223920727_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When I got a roach, they were a decent stamp</td></tr>
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I was still catching the odd good roach but couldn't seem to catch two from the same spot although when I got one they were a good stamp. The next visitor was Karl who walked up from 128 and said he hadn't had a bite but Adie was catching well on 126. I was running the float through but every now and again I'd get snagged which was starting to get annoying so started going further down the peg and had a few knocks, I just went to lift the rig up and there was a decent fish on, I played it carefully and slipped the net under a nice chub around a pound and a half. Karl headed back to his peg and I'm sure I heard him mutter 'jammy git' under his breath!<br />
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I stuck at it a bit longer but no more bites and I was itching to try across where I'd been feeding casters and hemp for two and a half hours. I picked up the shallower rig and stuck another section on and went across, the first bite resulted in a one ounce roach which wasn't what I'd hoped for so I tried further along and held the rig there, after a few minutes, a really positive bite saw solid resistance on the strike and I shipped back so the fish was I the middle of the peg, to be honest it didn't give me too many problems and I netted a nice chub, this one around 2lb.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HjslvwdVY4Y/WlO0ThyuCUI/AAAAAAAAIVg/Pm39YpdB8x0Fg4MtpDz6Fua5Rmgz02OPgCLcBGAs/s1600/26648527_10156118592362244_602773819_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HjslvwdVY4Y/WlO0ThyuCUI/AAAAAAAAIVg/Pm39YpdB8x0Fg4MtpDz6Fua5Rmgz02OPgCLcBGAs/s320/26648527_10156118592362244_602773819_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My second chub was around 2lb</td></tr>
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With over two hours left, I really thought I'd get a few more but it didn't really happen, I did have another nice roach but I knew I needed another couple of chub if I was going to challenge Baz. I decided to rest the far side for a bit and came back in the deeper water, the good news was that I wasn't getting any minnow trouble but the bad news was that I wasn't getting any bites at all now! I did have another gudgeon but with around thirty minutes left, I was just going to give that up as a bad job when the float shot under and another good fish was on, this one was quite angry and I breathed a sigh of relief when I slipped the net under my third chub, this one was 2lb plus.<br />
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Into the last half an hour and I went back across where hopefully the rest had done it some good, it turned out to be a bit of an anti-climax although I did have one more good roach. I ended up with 27 fish (three chub, roach and gudgeon) plus minnows and I thought I had between 7-8lb. I packed up and as Rob had the scales, went up to weigh him in, he was still putting his kit away so suggested I grab the scales and weigh Baz in first.<br />
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Baz said he'd had a really nice days fishing and when he pulled his net out, he had a lovely bag of fish including some chunky chublets, the needle swung round to 10lb 14oz and I knew I didn't have that. Rob was next and had loads of fish for 4lb 12oz, then it was my turn and my fish went 8lb 10oz and as I suspected I needed another chub. Back at the cars and Adie had won the section with a cracking net of quality roach weighing 14lb 6oz so I ended up third in the section which hasn't done my league any favours. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-52WaH8mjm1U/WlO5q1aABTI/AAAAAAAAIVw/OlLL40CwgkEuARs1aBizmpx1ZAZojqdqwCLcBGAs/s1600/26755404_10156118573642244_565326443_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-52WaH8mjm1U/WlO5q1aABTI/AAAAAAAAIVw/OlLL40CwgkEuARs1aBizmpx1ZAZojqdqwCLcBGAs/s320/26755404_10156118573642244_565326443_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baz had a lovely net of fish for 10lb 14oz</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WpSF2OlX3-U/WlO515ghBTI/AAAAAAAAIV0/ckEQPBfsDU009XLpvbaY-h0T0A5wEYxcwCLcBGAs/s1600/26694469_10156118565482244_941482809_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WpSF2OlX3-U/WlO515ghBTI/AAAAAAAAIV0/ckEQPBfsDU009XLpvbaY-h0T0A5wEYxcwCLcBGAs/s320/26694469_10156118565482244_941482809_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rob had loads of small fish for 4lb 12oz from peg 123</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z3nQS8HCJcI/WlO6CILpVdI/AAAAAAAAIV4/BTvMHx9GNGY5Wg-AOYMoNpvRN1_Mp-pdwCLcBGAs/s1600/26696744_10156118560572244_427742018_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z3nQS8HCJcI/WlO6CILpVdI/AAAAAAAAIV4/BTvMHx9GNGY5Wg-AOYMoNpvRN1_Mp-pdwCLcBGAs/s320/26696744_10156118560572244_427742018_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had three chub and some nice roach for 8lb 10oz</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We headed back to meet the others and the expected fish fest at Hambridge hadn't happened, Steve 'The Pole' Parker had won that section with 4lb 2oz, Steve Kedge had 3lb 3oz and then Bill and Stuart had both blanked. So I actually ended in third place and picked up £20 plus £1's off Steve P and Rob (who won our section by triple default!). Thanks to Stuart Aplin for the photo*<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-duOKS4hYV4g/WlS1DZM1yRI/AAAAAAAAIWI/lcGHJpuUYbcIOSsqcS2Gm8FoHn8cV51sACLcBGAs/s1600/26794299_10156122599157244_1306647991_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-duOKS4hYV4g/WlS1DZM1yRI/AAAAAAAAIWI/lcGHJpuUYbcIOSsqcS2Gm8FoHn8cV51sACLcBGAs/s320/26794299_10156122599157244_1306647991_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve 'The Pole' Parker had the top weight at Hambridge with 4lb 2oz*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So a nice days fishing for most of those at Isle Brewers but I do find it fascinating when an area like Hambridge doesn't fish, Kedgie never had a fish for four hours but then they've decided to feed and he said there were a lot of fish there in the last hour or so, what prompted them to feed then? I guess us anglers don't have all the answers, it's like some of the chub pegs, they won't produce week in, week out but I've heard people say there were no fish there, I just don't believe that.<br />
<br />
Todays result puts me in third place but I'm a long way behind Adie and realistically any chance of winning the league has now gone unless he blows out big time and I just can't see that happening.<br />
<br />
1 - Adie Bishop (Taunton) - 14lb 6oz<br />
2 - Baz Morgan (Somerset Angling) - 10lb 14oz<br />
3 - Jamie Rich (Against Men and Fish) - 8lb 10oz<br />
<br />
Sections<br />
A - Rob Cox (Ilminster) - 4lb 12oz<br />
B - Steve Parker (Ilminster) - 4lb 2oz<br />
<br />
After five matches and dropping the worst result, this is how the league looks so far,<br />
<br />
Adie Bishop - 5 pts (dropping 4)<br />
Steve Parker - 7 pts (dropping 4)<br />
Jamie Rich - 9 pts (dropping 3)<br />
Bill Hopping - 13 pts (dropping 20)<br />
Karl Aplin - 13 pts (dropping 20)<br />
Stu Aplin - 16 pts (dropping 20)<br />
<br />
I've also updated the list of framing pegs so far in the nine matches we've had on the river,<br />
<br />
120 - 6 times (won 2)<br />
110 - 4 times (won 2)<br />
126 - 4 times (won 2)<br />
128 - 4 times (won 1)<br />
124a - 3 times<br />
128a - 2 times<br />
125 - 2 times<br />
123 - 1 time (won 1)<br />
H4 - 1 time (won 1)<br />
125a - 1 time<br />
<br />
We've had seven different winners so far with Frank Woodard and Adie Bishop the only anglers to win more than one match.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Next up</b></span> - River Isle<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Coming soon</b></span> - My next trip down memory lane<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Check Out</b></span> - My latest review (below)</div>
Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05206232197364552517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31509096.post-40243648445005130932018-01-06T20:44:00.000+00:002018-01-23T23:24:20.187+00:00Lucky Tackle Box Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My latest review is something a little different, I always get quite excited when a firm contacts me to review their products and over the years I've tried and tested a very wide range of tackle and bait plus everything from socks to water bottles! This time around, the e-mail came from Lucky Tackle Box, a name I'm not familiar with, the message went on to say they are the number one rated subscription box for fisherman and that they have a strong social media presence and would be willing to promote my blog to their followers. So with my interest well and truly peaked but as always a little wary of scam merchants, my next step was my old friend Google.<br />
<br />
Well a quick search revealed that they were indeed a legit company but being based in the USA, this would mean bass fishing and probably lure fishing for bass, so not really a subject I knew anything about and conversely I couldn't really see too many bass anglers getting excited about me catching a few pounds of tiny roach on pinkies on a pole at Dillington! So a non-starter then? To be honest, I was still quite intrigued and given that the States has somewhere in the region of 46 million anglers compared to a measly 1-3 million in the UK, it wouldn't do any harm to investigate further.<br />
<br />
I had a sneaking suspicion that the e-mail I'd received was possibly a generic mailshot to any fishing related blogs so I replied asking if they knew I was UK based and would they still be interested in collaborating in some way. A lovely lady called Claire replied and as I suspected she hadn't realised I was in the UK but was still keen to send me out a box to review and asked which one I would like. Looking at their website revealed they have a varied range of boxes and subscriptions,<br />
<ul>
<li>Tournament Series ($50 per month)</li>
<li>Bass XL ($25)</li>
<li>Bass ($15)</li>
<li>Multi-species ($25)</li>
<li>Saltwater ($25)</li>
<li>Crappie, Panfish, Trout ($15)</li>
<li>Walleye ($25)</li>
<li>Ice Fishing ($15)</li>
<li>Fly Fishing ($25)</li>
</ul>
I decided to go for the Walleye box as I thought it would be suitable for pike fishing in the UK, the box arrived just after Xmas and it was in perfect condition which shows their packaging is spot on.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h4dVKTjke68/WlEGlrwfHmI/AAAAAAAAIT0/a1fU9nF99dYJ3n7wiaVnQhY7oftme22FwCLcBGAs/s1600/26234479_10156104456617244_1188513751_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h4dVKTjke68/WlEGlrwfHmI/AAAAAAAAIT0/a1fU9nF99dYJ3n7wiaVnQhY7oftme22FwCLcBGAs/s320/26234479_10156104456617244_1188513751_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Lucky Tackle Box</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I opened the box and it was very well put together, there was a LTB sticker, a little calendar plus a few promotional bits before I got to the lures themselves, included in my box were three plug type lures, two little spoons, a packet of Mustad hooks for soft plastic baits and two packets of soft baits. Also included was a little sample bottle of Clenzoil (a one-step cleaner, lubricant and rust preventative for reels, tools, engines and other equipment).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1TQlEFwZJbY/WlEOjhgzVvI/AAAAAAAAIUE/nPOL9vaeSlU7-BaKRHVZBio7jCzuIpRowCLcBGAs/s1600/26241837_10156104456147244_117903584_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1TQlEFwZJbY/WlEOjhgzVvI/AAAAAAAAIUE/nPOL9vaeSlU7-BaKRHVZBio7jCzuIpRowCLcBGAs/s320/26241837_10156104456147244_117903584_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well packaged</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PC9I1WsDRAQ/WlEOvjLExvI/AAAAAAAAIUI/nxAtxrcGiwcZIUyVi4jhnjW8IA19qmqFACLcBGAs/s1600/26234451_10156104454982244_396594680_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PC9I1WsDRAQ/WlEOvjLExvI/AAAAAAAAIUI/nxAtxrcGiwcZIUyVi4jhnjW8IA19qmqFACLcBGAs/s320/26234451_10156104454982244_396594680_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's like Xmas!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ReldBEaWh4/WlEO-FrQrgI/AAAAAAAAIUM/CoDsqXRH97831kBOZAmnUnSe6dZKPckqwCLcBGAs/s1600/26553014_10156104454537244_497846843_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ReldBEaWh4/WlEO-FrQrgI/AAAAAAAAIUM/CoDsqXRH97831kBOZAmnUnSe6dZKPckqwCLcBGAs/s320/26553014_10156104454537244_497846843_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loads of lures</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-netwt3r_hzM/WlEPPU6CY_I/AAAAAAAAIUU/6BNfxvrJBnUKuIFhaTt-ETTi3MQBdDxnACLcBGAs/s1600/26241890_10156104454487244_1847658893_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-netwt3r_hzM/WlEPPU6CY_I/AAAAAAAAIUU/6BNfxvrJBnUKuIFhaTt-ETTi3MQBdDxnACLcBGAs/s320/26241890_10156104454487244_1847658893_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great value</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now I don't profess to know much about lure fishing as it's something I've never done much of (maybe this year I'll do more!) and I've only ever caught one fish on a lure and that was from a lake in Thailand! but the lures certainly look like quality and according to the website you get tackle to the approx value of $40 which is a great deal. A closer look at some of the lures below,<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uCYGBhIQvPY/WlE0FPBT6uI/AAAAAAAAIUk/euIPN7NdMGEPMlU3lx2_tJP-08wwC-kiQCLcBGAs/s1600/26553390_10156115678042244_38472118_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uCYGBhIQvPY/WlE0FPBT6uI/AAAAAAAAIUk/euIPN7NdMGEPMlU3lx2_tJP-08wwC-kiQCLcBGAs/s320/26553390_10156115678042244_38472118_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VvF3eDK5vTM/WlE0iULXRtI/AAAAAAAAIUw/V-uV4fdS4QQRxEQc4wB12DyQne6w5AHbACLcBGAs/s1600/26754919_10156115701042244_2129562938_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VvF3eDK5vTM/WlE0iULXRtI/AAAAAAAAIUw/V-uV4fdS4QQRxEQc4wB12DyQne6w5AHbACLcBGAs/s320/26754919_10156115701042244_2129562938_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
It's a real eye opener seeing some of the kit they use on the other side of the pond but what I found interesting was that some of the soft baits are stored in a liquid additive and it seems to be something they do a lot of in the States, according to the packaging, one of the spoons has a little jelly lure that is infused with an attractant <em>'proven by independent laboratories to be 143% more effective than other leading brands' </em>so the lure has scent, colour and action. It's not something I hear much about here, I know we do flavour and colour deadbaits but could we add another level attraction to our lures, something to think about perhaps?<br />
<br />
Subscriptions are available for one, three, six and twelve months and looking at the websites online shop, you can also purchase limited edition boxes like the Holiday Gift Box or the Breast Cancer Awareness Box along with LTB clothing, gift cards, rods and lures.<br />
<br />
I do think subscription boxes are a great idea and work particularly well with something like lures, there have been similar things based in the UK but they haven't really worked which I think is down to the vast array of terminal tackle that coarse and match anglers use so with any subscription service there's a good chance a lot of the stuff you'd receive would never be used. Things like hooks, line and floats are a very personal choice with people having their favourite brands and they can be fiercely loyal to them to the point of not using anything by another firm, but for things like lures and flies, I think these boxes work really well.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.luckytacklebox.com/" target="_blank">Lucky Tackle Box</a><br />
<br />
There's loads of other stuff on the website from reviews and blogs to instructional videos and there's even a loyalty points rewards scheme and a tournament that anglers can get involved in.<br />
<br />
I have to say I've really enjoyed doing this review because, even though it's not particularly relevant to the fishing I do or indeed fishing in the UK as a whole, it's given me a flavour of how massive fishing, and bass fishing in particular, is in the States. I'd love to have a go at it!<br />
<br />
<em>*Lucky Tackle Box sent me this product for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions contained in this post are my own.</em><br />
</div>
Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05206232197364552517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31509096.post-46665918508332690582018-01-03T20:55:00.000+00:002018-01-03T20:55:45.154+00:002017 Yearly Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
With 2017 disappearing in our rear view mirrors, here's my look back over the previous twelve months,<br />
<strong><u></u></strong><br />
<strong><u>January 2017</u></strong><br />
<strong><u><br />
</u></strong>We were on the Isle for New Years Day and I got just the start I wanted when I drew 106 but freezing rain and a cold wind made it very uncomfortable and I only had two sticklebacks! The other two at Redbridge struggled as well while Hambridge proved once again that it's the place to be with Leighton Cox catching some nice perch and roach to win with 10lb with Fieldy second from 126 at Isle Brewers with 6lb 2oz and Hurf third with 4lb 4oz from H2.<br />
<br />
For the next match, conditions couldn't have been more different, it was mild, some rain had put colour and pace in the river and I had a cracking days fishing catching 135 fish (mainly roach with odd dace, chublets and gudgeon) for 20lb 5oz from peg 128 at Isle Brewers and my first win for a while. Adie Bishop was second with 10lb 9oz from H5 and Graham Field had 9lb 4oz for third from peg H2.<br />
<br />
Decent conditions for round seven of the Royal Oak league and I managed to get a draw at Hambridge, I've had a steady day catching mainly roach for 8lb 7oz and third place behind Fieldy with 10lb 8oz and Rob Cox with a brilliant 20lb from peg 124a, Rob had five chub for 10lb odd and nearly the same weight of quality roach.<br />
<br />
The penultimate round of the V.E.S. Precision league and I needed a section win to realistically stand any chance of a top three place in the league. After a week of hard frosts and good draw would be essential and I got it with peg H4 at Hambridge, it was a struggle and I caught a few small fish down under the bridge for 2lb 11oz which I didn't think would be any good but it had been really tough for everyone and Adie Bishop needed just 2lb 13oz to win and I missed out on winning the golden peg by 2oz. To rub salt into the wound Steve Parker pushed me down into third place as he had 2lb 12oz and took a pound off me too!<br />
<br />
Not a lot to say about the final match of the month, drew peg 92 at North Bradon which has been really poor and true to form, I weighed 6oz which was two dace, two chublets, a gudgeon and twelve minnows! Terry Morgan won with 10lb 13oz of quality roach from peg 128.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Highlights - My first win of the year with over 20lb of quality roach</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Lowlights - Missing out on winning my second match of the year (and a golden peg) by 2oz</span><br />
<strong><u></u></strong><br />
<strong><u>February 2017</u></strong><br />
<br />
First match of the month was the open which was at Dillington and I drew peg 13 on the bottom bank and had a bite a chuck all day, mainly roach along with a couple of chublets and the icing on the cake was a 2lb chub fifteen minutes from time. I weighed 12lb 6oz which was just short of Justin Charles who had a bream and skimmers for 12lb 8oz but a lovely days fishing and a nice pick up of £75.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_InYOr6-dY4/WJxcSo-Pn-I/AAAAAAAAGtk/MOywpNwWhgQTi2NqEYBCyjwsElrPGUKiACLcB/s1600/16521924_10155040778337244_941041694_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_InYOr6-dY4/WJxcSo-Pn-I/AAAAAAAAGtk/MOywpNwWhgQTi2NqEYBCyjwsElrPGUKiACLcB/s320/16521924_10155040778337244_941041694_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was second in the open with 12lb 6oz of roach and a bonus chub</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The final round of the Royal Oak League saw me on peg 129 and I've struggled for 2lb 13oz although I ended up winning the section by triple default! I also finished second in the league behind Graham Field who won the match and the league with 14lb of chub, perch and roach from peg 124. Young Stuart Aplin had a lovely net of quality roach weighing 10lb 2oz for second place and Terry Morgan was third with 4lb 11oz from peg 126a.<br />
<br />
The following week was the final V.E.S. Precision match and I had mixed feelings when I drew peg 109 at Redbridge, it's a peg I've wanted to fish for a long time but it's been poor in recent matches. It looked nice but after three and a half hours, all I had to show for my efforts were a few minnows. Then a decent fish rolled and shortly after I had the first of five chub, I weighed 14lb 2oz to win the match and I ended up second in the league so a nice pick up of £105.<br />
<br />
Barney's Pairs Open was the final match of the month with an angler on Harry's Pond and the other on Dillington, I drew peg 3 on the far side, not a great area and I've caught odd fish throughout the day to finish with 14 carp for 28lb 1oz and third on the lake, my partner, Justin Charles, was also third and we ended up in the third place behind Rob Cox and Baz Morgan who won with three points just edging out Adie Bishop and Rich Studley on weight. A nice day and we raised a tidy amount for charity.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Highlights - A lovely day at Dillington and a nice pick up</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Lowlights - Being 2oz off winning again!</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"></span><br />
<strong><u>March 2017</u></strong><br />
<br />
I started March at Summerhayes in atrocious conditions, it was a rover and I made a big mistake by picking peg 3 on Longs, I ended up with 6lb 9oz of silvers and 26lb carp for nowhere.<br />
<br />
After missing out on the Perry St league last year, I was delighted when Les phoned and asked if I wanted to fish this year, of course I said yes and there was also a pre-league match which would give me an idea of what to expect. It was great to see all the guys although the Torquay Tart was also in attendance. I drew peg 14 which I was fairly happy with, I had an enjoyable day catching six decent carp shallow and one late on meat for 37lb 8oz, a section win and £30. Steve Bishop won with over 78lb from peg 4. The best part of the day was taking another pound off the Tart.<br />
<br />
For the next match I was back at Summerhayes but on Sellicks this time and I was hoping for a nice days silvers fishing, that went out the window when I drew peg 23, I struggled for 5lb 6oz of silvers and 18lb 7oz of carp. Lee Williams had the top weight with 90lb 8oz and Paul Purchase had a cracking net of silvers weighing 17lb 3oz and Janders took a pound off me as he weighed 10lb 13oz of skimmers and tench.<br />
<br />
I was back at Summerhayes for the last match of the month and when I pulled out peg 39, I wasn't too impressed as it's not usually a great silvers peg, I ended up having a lovely day and weighed 13lb 12oz of skimmers, tench and roach to win the silvers. Steve Kedge had the top weight on the day with 86lb 8oz.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S6U8-VKBXGc/WNmebezgTeI/AAAAAAAAG_E/Hkzco9jXIAQO5EoAjzehIDrMlLVeR84cQCLcB/s1600/17555542_10155204202202244_318280473_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S6U8-VKBXGc/WNmebezgTeI/AAAAAAAAG_E/Hkzco9jXIAQO5EoAjzehIDrMlLVeR84cQCLcB/s320/17555542_10155204202202244_318280473_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had a lovely day to win the silvers with 13lb 12oz</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: red;">Highlights - My first silvers win of the year</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Lowlights - Choosing peg 3!</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"></span><br />
<strong><u>April 2017</u></strong><br />
<br />
April saw the start of the Perry St and Sadborow League, I was fairly pleased with peg 13 on the former but it was hard going and I ended up with 28lb which was one fish short of a decent result as Bushy had 32lb 10oz for second in the section and Exeter Mike had 38lb from peg 12. All the leading weights came from Sadborow with Les winning with 115lb from peg 5.<br />
<br />
The next match was on Sellicks at Summerhayes and I was really looking forward to it, I drew peg 2 on the near side when all the silvers weights have been coming from the top end or the far side which about summed the day up. I had a steady start catching a couple of skimmers and a few small tench in the first two hours only for the wind to get up and it went from blue skies and blazing sunshine to freezing cold and blowing a gale! I had a few carp but just couldn't catch any more silvers apart from one small crucian at the death which gave me 3lb 7oz for nowhere. Exeter Mike won the silvers with 6lb 15oz and Ads Palmer had the top weight on the day with 98lb 7oz.<br />
<br />
Good Friday saw me at Summerhayes for the silvers only open on Longs, it was well attended with 18 anglers fishing, I wasn't too impressed when I drew peg 5 but had plenty of space which I thought would help. I've had a really nice days fishing catching skimmers and a tench (plus plenty of nuisance carp) for 11lb 3oz which was just enough to win ahead of Gary Butler with 11lb and Jeff Sparkes with 10lb 7oz. I had a nice pick up of £85 plus a place in the Champion of Champions final later in the year.<br />
<br />
Then it was onto Perry St for the second league match and I drew peg 2, I had a really nice day catching 13 carp shallow for 50lb 6oz which won the section and was top weight on the lake. I picked up £55 but the icing on the cake was a pound off the Tart who came second with 49lb 8oz.<br />
<br />
Another tough day on Sellicks followed and I was carped right out on peg 5, managed one crucian, four skimmers and four tench for 4lb 14oz and second in the silvers behind Jess Jordan with an excellent 12lb 10oz. Mark Jones had the top weight on the day with 86lb 8oz of carp.<br />
<br />
The last match of the month was a rover on Longs at Summerhayes and I got off to a great start when I had first choice and picked peg 38, I had a slow start on the silvers front and got carped out on all my lines to finish with 8lb 7oz of silvers to finish just short of Janders who was second with 9lb 2oz.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Highlights - Qualifying for the Champion of Champions Final</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Lowlights - Getting carped out on peg 38</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"></span><br />
<strong><u>May 2017</u></strong><br />
<br />
We were back at Summerhayes for another rover and choice 18 out of 21 was far from ideal, with no pegs left on Sellicks, I ended up on Willow and really struggled, I had 2lb 14oz of silvers and chucked back around ten carp.<br />
<br />
Round three of Chard's league saw me at Sadborow for the first time since 2007!, I was disappointed to draw peg 2 as it had been poor in the first two matches but when I got to my peg, there were loads of carp cruising about and I had a lovely day catching 32 carp and a good skimmer for 94lb 6oz, second place on the day and a nice pick up of £85. I did lose a pound to the Tart who won with 103lb 14oz from peg 6.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lB2LSCNnzKM/WRwgm2KGzqI/AAAAAAAAHLU/DOTsYoHXEnsKFfVrr3ceTZLBXThQKejJwCLcB/s1600/18492345_10155372177562244_201860869_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lB2LSCNnzKM/WRwgm2KGzqI/AAAAAAAAHLU/DOTsYoHXEnsKFfVrr3ceTZLBXThQKejJwCLcB/s320/18492345_10155372177562244_201860869_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me with part of my 94lb 6oz catch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was on Perry St for round four and was disappointed when I pulled out peg 1, it's a corner peg but hasn't been doing very well. I lost a foulhooker early and then didn't have a bite for three and a half hours. I eventually went 14.5 metres to my right and had five carp and lost one on the whistle, should have done it earlier as two more fish would have got me third in the section, lost pounds to Picky and the Tart. Bushy had the top weight with 51lb 14oz with Hoff just behind on 51lb 4oz.<br />
<br />
I finally managed to draw on the far side of Sellicks and had a lovely day catching two big skimmers, six smaller ones, a big crucian, eight little tench (including a golden one) and a couple of roach for 14lb 9oz and second in the silvers behind Rob Birch who had 17lb 4oz. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Highlights - A nice return to Sadborow</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Lowlights - Getting it wrong in peg 1</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"></span><br />
<strong><u>June 2017</u></strong><br />
<br />
The first match of June saw me at Dillington and I got off to a great start when I pulled out peg 18 which is probably my favourite peg, I caught a few fish short, then long and then shallow but several people were catching bream and skimmers opposite so I put in some kit and fished corn on the hook but never had a bite on it! I ended up chasing my tail and finished with 91 fish for 7lb 10oz and second in the section behind Jess Jordan who had two chub and a big bream from 24 for 11lb 9oz.<br />
<br />
For the next match I phoned Pete at Summerhayes to book in and was delighted when he said we'd be on Sellicks but then during the week he called to say we were now on Willow and Lily! I drew peg 7 on Willow and the last time I was on that lake, the top silvers weight was less than 7lb so that would be my target today. I got off to a great start catching ten skimmers for about 4lb in just over an hour but then struggled for the odd roach and carp but luckily my 5lb 2oz of silvers was enough and I had a nice pick up of £48 plus a nugget off Lee Williams. Nigel Wickham had the top weight on the day with 61lb of carp.<br />
<br />
Then it was back to Perry St for round five of the league and I was really pleased to draw peg 12, I had a steady day catching shallow to end up with 14 carp for 63lb 6oz, second in the section and £55 behind Bushy who had 79lb 8oz from the peg next door. <br />
<br />
Sadborow was the following week and I drew peg 9 which had won the last match and it was solid, caught really well for the first four hours, again all shallow and despite not catching in the last hour, my 44 carp weighed 120lb 6oz which was top weight on the day and I picked up £90. I was slightly disappointed to miss out on beating my best ever match weight by a pound but yet another nugget from the Tart made it more bearable!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Highlights - A lovely day at Sadborow</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Lowlights - Just missing out on a new personal best match weight</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"></span><br />
<strong><u>July 2017</u></strong><br />
<br />
Dillington was next and I was gutted to draw peg 23 especially when 24 wasn't in, although I thought I might have a chance of catching by the bush although it was 16 metres away. To cut a long story short, I had a foulhooked skimmer and lost a good chub on my light rig and then spent most the match trying to catch a bonus fish which didn't happen. In the last hour and a half I caught chublets quite well fishing shallow and weighed 4lb 12oz but just missed out on the default section money by 2oz! Adie Bishop won again with 44lb 9oz of chub and bream from peg 1.<br />
<br />
The next match was a charity pairs with a twist, you wouldn't know which lake you were on until the morning or who you were fishing with until after the match. I got the pond I wanted when I pulled out peg 9 at Harry's and had a lovely day's fishing catching carp shallow to weigh 62lb 14oz which was second on the lake behind Bill Hopping who had 114lb 14oz for a comfortable win. At Dillington, Ashley Tomkins had an awesome day to reclaim the match record with 69lb 3oz of bream and skimmers from peg 2. Back at the results and I got paired with someone who didn't do very well so no coin again, but on the plus side the anglers raised a fantastic £120 for Macmillan Cancer Support.<br />
<br />
I was looking forward to the next Chard match at Sadborow although peg 6 wouldn't have been my first choice, it's a good peg, albeit a bit awkward to fish. There were loads of carp swimming about and I caught quite well for two hours but then began chasing my tail somewhat and kept getting distracted by fish in the margins. I had one fish from the five metre line and mugged a couple in the last hour but my 75lb 14oz was way off the pace, I lost a nugget to Brendon who won with 112lb 1oz and Janders also beat me although a pound off Picky eased the pain a little.<br />
<br />
For the penultimate league match I was on the high numbers at Perry St and hoping for a peg towards the far end but pulled out 19 which hasn't been great and I thought I'd be in for a struggle. A couple of early carp caught shallow settled me down and I was doing alright. I even started getting a few fish on the meat line until disaster struck and I lost a lump when the line snapped above the float and didn't have a suitable replacement which was really poor preparation on my part. I managed another shallow and then right at the death I hooked one that I was determined to get in and was playing it really carefully when the hook pulled out!<br />
<br />
I just knew those lost fish would cost me, I had 11 carp and a decent skimmer for 45lb 12oz and when Picky was next to weigh and beat me by 2oz, I thought I'd finish well down as several others were admitting to 40lb but I ended up third behind Picky and the Hoff who won with 52lb 10oz from peg 11. I picked up £30 plus that all important pound from the Tart. Howard had the top weight on the day with 86lb 2oz from peg 4.<br />
<br />
Then it was back to Dillington and I've finally drawn a peg on the far side, I fed a line with corn and casters for bream but not had a bite over it until the last half an hour when I've had a good bream and two skimmers to add to 8lb of roach plus a pound tench caught on the two sections to hand rig to weigh 15lb 5oz and finish third behind Nick Payne with 15lb 13oz and Jake Woodard with 21lb 3oz.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ni89kGLmShM/WX-op4A2iKI/AAAAAAAAHdA/Mj7fwGyLePIur_i8uC25vN86Nsq_qh6MACEwYBhgL/s1600/20527458_10155650302502244_469417168_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ni89kGLmShM/WX-op4A2iKI/AAAAAAAAHdA/Mj7fwGyLePIur_i8uC25vN86Nsq_qh6MACEwYBhgL/s320/20527458_10155650302502244_469417168_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I caught some nice fish late at Dillington</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: red;">Highlights - A nice day at Dillington</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Lowlights - Not having another meat rig!</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"></span><br />
<strong><u>August 2017</u></strong><br />
<br />
First match of the month saw me fishing the new lakes at Todber Manor for the first time, I drew peg 38 on Hill View which meant nothing to me, I decided to keep it simple by fishing two short lines, it was slow going for the first three hours and I probably only put 15lb in the net. I came in on the inside line and started catching really well and the swim just got stronger and stronger, ended up with 49 fish (37 carp to 12lb plus skimmers, tench, roach and perch) for 97lb 8oz and just missed out on the default section which was won with 101lb. So not a bad effort for my first visit and I'm looking forward to going again. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nOxPzL4vu44/WZtgRXFMcfI/AAAAAAAAHjU/BLvn3aLzq2QLPSBZSStW1XmTvCeKDZ83ACLcBGAs/s1600/20643739_10155668331592244_164679371_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nOxPzL4vu44/WZtgRXFMcfI/AAAAAAAAHjU/BLvn3aLzq2QLPSBZSStW1XmTvCeKDZ83ACLcBGAs/s320/20643739_10155668331592244_164679371_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A really enjoyable day on my first visit and close to a ton</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The following day it was the final Chard AC league match and I was desperate to avoid peg 1 but of course drew it, I had seven carp for 30lb 14oz and I needed one more for a decent result and I lost five! Ended up joint sixth in the league and picked up £15.<br />
<br />
The next match was at Dillington and I was fairly happy to draw peg 24 as it can be good but after spending most of the match trying to catch big fish, my modest 4lb 1oz came nowhere, Bill Hopping won with 14lb of paste caught bream and skimmers from peg 20.<br />
<br />
It was back to Summerhayes for a match on Sellicks and I was disappointed to drew peg 7 on the near side but actually had a really enjoyable day to win the silvers with 8lb 12oz of skimmers, little tench and a crucian just edging out Rob Birch who had 8lb 9oz.<br />
<br />
For the next Summer League match at Dillington I drew just where I wanted on the far side but scorching hot conditions made it hard going for everyone, I had a couple of skimmers on corn and some roach for 6lb 3oz but missed several bites on corn which was costly as Frank won with 10lb 9oz and 8lb 2oz was last in the frame.<br />
<br />
On the Bank Holiday Monday I was at Summerhayes on Longs for a rover and ended on peg 33 where Roger Russell had over 28lb of skimmers on Friday, I had almost a perfect first hour catching a tench, three crucians and six skimmers (plus a couple of nuisance carp) for about 8lb but then struggled to catch decent silvers for the remaining five hours and my 12lb 4oz was a long way behind Rob Birch in second with nearly 17lb and Roger with a brilliant 29lb 15oz.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Highlights - The first hour in the last match at Summerhayes</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Lowlights - The remaining five hours!!!</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"></span><br />
<strong><u>September 2017</u></strong><br />
<br />
I started the month back at Summerhayes for a rover on all ponds and managed to get on Longs peg 32, had a steady first three hours catching skimmers along with the odd tench and crucian but then put very little in the net for two hours before catching well again for the last sixty minutes to weigh 16lb 4oz and I needed a couple more as 19lb 8oz was second in the silvers.<br />
<br />
For the last Summer League match at Dillington I drew peg 4 which is one of the ones I fancied, had a few bits early before fishing for big fish with corn, missed six good bites throughout the day and then with an hour and a half to go, I had a 4lb chub followed by one of 3lb before losing one. My next fish was a chublet and then I lost another big chub that snapped me and time was running out, I did manage another chublet. I weighed 9lb 8oz but knew those lost fish would cost me and they did as Bill won the match and league with 15lb 8oz and there were two 10lb weights! I did pick up £20 default section money but a good chance to win the match was wasted.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bhiePExvMPc/WifLGqLPVmI/AAAAAAAAIKc/7OL2y77Td3UjHVrxvNPW6VaAnY0RpV07ACLcBGAs/s1600/21552996_10155775581157244_941601150_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bhiePExvMPc/WifLGqLPVmI/AAAAAAAAIKc/7OL2y77Td3UjHVrxvNPW6VaAnY0RpV07ACLcBGAs/s320/21552996_10155775581157244_941601150_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had two nice chub but lost two as well!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Another match at Summerhayes, this time on Sellicks, I drew where I wanted, peg 18 on the far side but it was really hard going and I had four skimmers, one little tench and a couple of bits for 2lb 9oz which was good enough for second in the silvers behind Roger Russell who had a 2lb skimmer in the last half an hour to beat me by 2oz!<br />
<br />
The final match of the month saw me back at Summerhayes and on Sellicks again, I drew just where I wanted, peg 19 on the far side but in a match very similar to last weeks, I had a few silvers for 2lb 6oz and nowhere, Rob Birch won the silvers off the golden peg with 7lb 13oz to take home a nice payday.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Highlights - A nice days silvers fishing to start the month</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Lowlights - Losing/missing enough to win at Dillington</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"></span><br />
<strong><u>October 2017</u></strong><br />
<br />
I was really looking forward to getting back on the river especially with reports of lots of fish in all areas, with Upper and Lower Coxes and Isle Brewers in, I had a wish list of pegs but I pulled out 28 which wasn't one of them. It looked good and I had some nice dace and chublets for 4lb 7oz but was well off the pace, Graham Field won with a lovely net of fish, 21lb 10oz, Paul Homewood was second with 15lb 6oz of quality roach and chub from peg 128 and Jake Woodard was third with 12lb 8oz from peg 125.<br />
<br />
I didn't fare much better in the next match either, I wanted to draw at Isle Brewers but pulled out peg 14 at Coxes and although it's one of my favourite pegs, with the river being so low and clear I thought I might struggle and I was right, I ended up weighing 3lb 7oz of dace and chublets. Steve Parker won with 8lb 11oz from peg 128.<br />
<br />
Then I missed the next match due to doing my back in, I'd booked the following Friday off so I could fish the silvers match at Summerhayes before the final the week after. It was a rover and I got just the start I wanted when I had first choice, I went for peg 34 and had a really good first three hours when I put 7-8lb in the net and was well on my way to my 12lb target but then like the other two times I've drawn in the 30's, I've really struggled. I ended up with 21 skimmers and a few tiny roach for 10lb 6oz and just missed out as John Barker had 10lb 13oz and Jeff Sparkes won with 12lb 1oz.<br />
<br />
Sunday saw the match switched to Dillington and I was happy when I drew peg 14, one of my favourite pegs, my plan was to fish for roach but also have a big fish line by the reeds and try it for ten minutes every hour. I felt I fished quite a tidy match and had 6lb of roach, gudgeon and rudd plus two nice skimmers from my big fish line for 8lb 9oz, third place and £25 to end my bad run for now. Baz Morgan won with 14lb 5oz of bream and skimmers from peg 24 followed by Adie Bishop with 11lb 15oz of small fish from peg 6.<br />
<br />
The following Friday I was at Summerhayes for the Champion of Champions Silvers Final, which I'd been looking forward to for ages and drew a decent peg when I pulled out number 17. Things got even better when I got to the peg and I saw I had loads of space which could only be a bonus. I had a steady start catching some skimmers from the top two line in the first couple of hours before getting carped out. I ended up with 4lb 14oz which I was sure wouldn't be any good but sneaked into fifth place and last in the money picking up £40. Ziggy Slowinski was crowned the champion with 10lb, followed by Roy Hughes with 8lb 4oz and Glynn Wickham with 6lb 1oz.<br />
<br />
The last match of the month was round two of the V.E.S. league on the river and with 15 booked in, the pay out was tweaked a bit to give the anglers at Coxes a chance as all the top weights have been coming from Redbridge and Isle Brewers. Of course I drew peg 29 at Lower Coxes and the last time I had it, I caught one minnow. It actually looked really nice and I started catching small chublets but then some lovely dace started showing and I caught odd fish by swapping between two lines to end with 31 fish for 5lb 10oz which was enough for second in my section and another £40. Frank Woodard had the top weight on the day with 18lb 5oz followed by Leighton Cox who had 17lb 4oz which included four chub for 14lb plus some quality roach but he lost four chub as well.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Highlights - The last three matches!</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Lowlights - The first three matches!</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"></span><br />
<strong><u>November 2017</u></strong><br />
<br />
With Rob and Hurf away, it was down to me and Steve P to organise the next match, I'd been dreaming about peg 110 all week and with only two balls left in the bucket, it was still in there but Bill Hopping spoilt the party. I had the last peg which was 128a and I was fairly happy with that as some big chub have been hooked (and lost) there in recent weeks, I only caught a few bits but hooked three chub, getting two out. I weighed 7lb 15oz which was enough for third place and £20 (plus a pound off Steve P!) but I was only just behind Adie with 8lb 8oz and Bill with 8lb 10oz so that lost chub was costly!<br />
<br />
For the next match, the Isle was up and coloured and it was a struggle for most, I made the most of drawing 126 and on a poor day, my 3lb 10oz of roach and dace was enough for a very welcome win. Adie Bishop was second from his favourite peg (128) with 2lb 4oz of small fish and Fieldy was third with a pound of dace from peg 120.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MF8b-bE3USU/WifLqSMly1I/AAAAAAAAIKk/VnZ0CkEmt2Ax9ieKnzgcnROpgoTYOEj_ACLcBGAs/s1600/matchwin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="239" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MF8b-bE3USU/WifLqSMly1I/AAAAAAAAIKk/VnZ0CkEmt2Ax9ieKnzgcnROpgoTYOEj_ACLcBGAs/s1600/matchwin.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had 3lb 10oz for my first win in a while</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The river was in good condition for the next round of the V.E.S. Precision league and Hurf had put in a few pegs at Hambridge for the first time this series, with loads of small fish topping I thought I'd bag up but it was actually a bit of a struggle, I had two good perch (and lost one) plus a few small roach in the first two hours and then it died a death. In the last hour I started getting a few roach and then landed a 5lb pike, I ended up with 25 fish for 3lb 13oz and three section points which wasn't a disaster. Adie Bishop won from the peg below me with loads of small fish for 14lb 2oz, Karl Aplin was second with 9lb 2oz from 120 and Paul Homewood was third with 6lb from peg 125a.<br />
<br />
For round four of the IBC league, I drew peg 124a at Isle Brewers, it was a struggle with the river low and clear but I had some quality roach and two chub (one in the last five minutes) for 5lb 12oz and second place behind Baz Morgan who had 7lb 10oz from peg 120. Stuart Aplin was third with a cracking chub of 4lb 4oz from peg 110.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Highlights - My first win for a while</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Lowlights - Losing that chub in 128a</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"></span><br />
<strong><u>December 2017</u></strong><br />
<br />
The Xmas Fayre was on Dillington and the Canal, I really fancied having drawing the latter as I haven't fished it for ages but wasn't too upset when I pulled out peg 18 on the pond, normally a decent winter peg, I've had bites all day to end up with 103 roach, rudd, perch and a Dillington barbel for 7lb which put me fifth on the pond. I kept trying to catch a bonus fish throughout the day which has wasted an hour but as Jake Woodard won with a nice net of skimmers weighing 15lb 8oz, it was probably the right thing to do. The Canal fished really hard with Andy Welch needing just 3lb 5oz for top spot. Everybody then enjoyed a hot meal at Ilminster Bowling Club and all the anglers took home a nice prize.<br />
<br />
With torrential rain and strong winds, we were at Dillington for the next match as well, I was really happy with peg 2 but after the last match I was determined not to waste any time searching for elusive bonus fish. I had bites all day to finish with 122 roach, rudd, perch and gudgeon for 9lb 1oz and second place behind Justin Charles who won with 10lb 10oz and just 1oz in front of Frank Woodard.<br />
<br />
With a free date, I spoke to Harry and a charity match on his pond was arranged, I managed to avoid the favoured reed pegs again and basically I never had a bite for four hours and then had two carp for 5lb 5oz and a few rudd for 5oz which was enough to take the silvers pool of £20 by default. Rob Cox had the top weight with 42lb from peg 1 by the reeds. Although the fishing had been poor for many, we still raised a fantastic £70 for the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association.<br />
<br />
With nothing on, I managed to get in on a knock up at Perry St but the end pegs dominated and I drew in the middle and only managed a few skimmers and roach, the Tart won with 51lb of carp. Another knock up, this time at Harry's on the Thursday and I managed to avoid the two fliers yet again and was blanking after two hours, I started fishing by some dead reeds and caught quite well in spells to finish with ten carp and a rudd for 22lb 10oz and third place. Jake won comfortably from peg 1 with 65lb 7oz.<br />
<br />
The final match of the year was switched to Dillington with the river flooded, I drew peg 8 on the far side and struggled with the wind and rain in my face all day, I ended up with 75 fish for 5lb 6oz which won the section by default behind Scott Russell who had the top weight on the day with 15lb 7oz of skimmers and roach.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Highlights - Finishing second at Dillington</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Lowlights - Managing to avoid the fliers at Harry's yet again</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"></span><br />
<strong><u>Summary</u></strong><br />
<strong><u></u></strong><br />
Although I had a brilliant 2017, it could have been called the 'What if?' or 'Bridesmaid' year, I finished second in the V.E.S. Precision and Royal Oak leagues, I missed out on a golden peg win by 2oz and also finished second in the open by the same margin. I also fished Sadborow pond for the first time in ten years and had three lovely days fishing although I missed out on a new personal best match weight by a pound when I weighed 120lb 6oz. I visited a new lake at Todber Manor for the first time and didn't disgrace myself with 97lb off a mediocre peg but missed out on a section win by 4lb and lost several carp, another case of 'What if?'.<br />
<br />
There were no foreign trips this year and I didn't manage to get on the Wye for the barbel or the Axe for mullet and sadly I'm no closer to catching my first flounder, maybe next year!<br />
<br />
I was delighted to get in on the Perry St and Sadborow league, the fishing was great and the banter even better, I ended up joint sixth in the league but a few mistakes and lost fish, cost me several places. Dillington continues to evolve year on year and the quality roach and rudd seem to have done a disappearing act with bream and skimmers now featuring heavily, the match record has been broken several times and now stands at over 69lb. It really is an intriguing venue and I look forward to seeing how it fishes next summer, I still think the small fish could do with thinning out a bit though.<br />
<br />
I've really enjoyed fishing the Isle as always although it would be nice to try some different sections, Summerhayes has been producing some good bags of skimmers and I'll be trying my hardest to qualify for the Champion of Champions final again next year.<br />
<br />
The blog continues to go from strength to strength, it had over 135,000 hits last year but has now flown past <strong><span style="color: red;">649,000 </span></strong>(which is over 196,000 in 2017!). As I've said before, one of the unexpected perks of writing the blog is being contacted by companies to review their products and the two that stand out from last year have been <a href="http://www.buffwear.co.uk/" target="_blank">Buff</a> and <a href="http://www.peejaytackle.co.uk/" target="_blank">Peejay Tackle</a>, both a pleasure to work with.<br />
<br />
The blog is very proud to be supported by Bait-Tech and I'm already looking forward to 2018 when they have some fantastic new products coming out. I also have to thank Hayley for all her continued help and invaluable advice.<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://www.bait-tech.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.bait-tech.com/" border="0" data-original-height="132" data-original-width="150" height="175" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1DXyXj9C8sc/Wj7AVt2UzxI/AAAAAAAAIOw/Z0sDNgVKKjcYOH1H2ZId8qC1o26fQ9OZACLcBGAs/s200/1457349419_9_Logo_Image_jpg1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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As we say goodbye to 2017, lets not forget Dave Lawrence and Bob Hammond who we sadly lost and are hopefully bagging up sat round a picturesque lake somewhere where the sun is always shining - tight lines lads.</div>
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So what's ahead for Against Men and Fish?, well the Archives series has been very well received and there's plenty more to come, I've also published several guest blogs and would love to feature more so please get in touch if you would like to get involved. There will be lots more reviews and interviews and I'm also hoping to go back to Thailand where I have a new venue in my sights. Of course there will still be lots of detailed match reports and I'll try my best to mix things up with some different lakes and rivers along with another go for those elusive mullet and maybe even a bash at those flounder! </div>
<br />
Matches won - 5<br />
Silvers wins - 4<br />
Winnings - £1317<br />
<br />
Matches fished - 58<br />
Number of pick ups - 33<br />
Success rate - 57%<br />
<br />
New venue pb match weights <br />
Sadborow Pond - 120lb 6oz<br />
Todber Manor - 97lb 8oz<br />
</div>
Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05206232197364552517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31509096.post-64010265854373965702018-01-01T12:20:00.000+00:002018-01-01T12:20:33.184+00:00Dillington Pond - IBC Winter League 6 - 31st December 2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It would have been nice to fish the river once more before the end of the year but the weather had other ideas, the Isle was in the fields at Hambridge on Thursday and more rain on Friday, Saturday and forecast for Sunday meant the only sensible (and safe) option was to put it on the pond. I don't mind to be honest as it usually means plenty of bites and it's normally a close match.<br />
<br />
I got to the bowling club for breakfast and we had a healthy turn out of thirteen anglers including Tackleuk mugger Scott Russell, who's ears pricked up on social media when he heard we were on the pond. If the forecast was to be believed some of us would be in for a rough day with heavy rain and strong winds forecast. I fancied peg 2 or 17, 18 and 19 on the near side as they're normally fairly sheltered. I announced the draw and as I had the bucket, nearly everybody pulled out a ball until there was just Scott and me left, I offered him the bucket and said there should be two balls left, he stuck his hand in and grabbed them both before giving me one, peg 8, an okay peg but on the far side and I would probably have the wind in my chops, he looked at his and he'd only gone and drawn peg 2 and would be hard to beat today.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vzg2fx_QlLk/Wkl4TB8r1kI/AAAAAAAAISM/sq6U8Zyu8SYdYBRFPFb74sVSMxDQV9vhACLcBGAs/s1600/26235372_10156098165737244_1696792004_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vzg2fx_QlLk/Wkl4TB8r1kI/AAAAAAAAISM/sq6U8Zyu8SYdYBRFPFb74sVSMxDQV9vhACLcBGAs/s320/26235372_10156098165737244_1696792004_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wind wasn't too bad as I was setting up</td></tr>
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I got out the pond and the wind wasn't too bad so hopefully they'd got it wrong for once, Hurf was on peg 9 and I had Leighton on my right on peg 7. I set up a 0.5 gram Drennan Roach with a size 18 B611 barbless to 0.10mm and also a little Preston Chianti (not used), on the side tray I had maggots, pinkies, casters and Bait-Tech Super Seed hemp and I also mixed up some Pro Nat Dark. Scotty came up for a quick chat before the start and said he thought it might be hard today but I said I thought you'd still need double figures.<br />
<br />
Rob got us underway and I cupped in two balls of groundbait containing a few pinkies and casters at ten metres before starting with double pinkie on the hook, the float settled and after a minute or so, it sailed away and I swung in a small roach. More followed so I tried double maggot but it didn't improve the stamp, nor did caster and I was having to wait ages for bites. Hurf was catching small fish as well and it was neck and neck at this stage. It certainly wasn't fast and furious and after an hour I was up to 17 fish for about a pound.<br />
<br />
Looking around, from what I could see nobody was really bagging, Leighton hadn't caught on the feeder next door, Bill was struggling on peg 6 as was Jake on peg 13 although I could see Fieldy catching bits and pieces on peg 14. The second hour was slightly better and I added another 20 fish including the odd better roach and a couple of chunky 4oz perch on double red maggot.<br />
<br />
Then it started raining quite heavily and the wind got up and it was becoming more and more difficult to hold the pole, the pegs on the far side were a little more sheltered and I could see Harry catching small fish quite well although he did a little bit of squirrel hunting as well. Big Frank was swapping between the pole and feeder so I guessed he was struggling a bit and Ben Simmonds, who was fishing with us for the first time today, looked like he was getting some nice roach on peg 19. I couldn't really see Scotty but I could see his pole and he was shipping in and out on a regular basis so he was catching quite well.<br />
<br />
It was a struggle in the third hour although I had a little run of roach fishing a metre short of my feed, Hurf had chucked a feeder out but wasn't getting any action, I did see Rob up on peg 5 land two skimmers in quick succession. During the fourth hour, the rain stopped, the wind calmed down and the sun even tried to poke it's head out of the clouds. I started catching some 2oz roach on caster now that presentation was half sensible and with around an hour and a half left, I thought I might catch well. Hurf had a chublet and then Leighton had a nice skimmer on the tip and then had another next chuck and it was looking like we might be in for a grandstand finish.<br />
<br />
The weather had other ideas though and turned the wind dial up to 11 and it started absolutely lashing it down, a few times I had to drop the pole on the water as I feared for it's safety and it's times like this that wearing glasses is a real pain. My catch rate plummeted and I wasn't too upset to hear the final whistle, I only added a few fish to finish with 75 which I thought would give me between 4-5lb if they averaged an ounce apiece.<br />
<br />
Bill had the scales but as he hadn't finished packing up yet, I offered to start the weigh in and walked up to Steve P on peg 1, he'd struggled for 2lb 8oz but did have a couple of cracking roach, Scotty was next and had caught really well, he had over 140 fish which included seven skimmers and he'd had five of them in the last hour. He said there were a lot fish there because at one stage the wind caught his pole and he foul hooked a skimmer! He weighed 15lb 7oz and I didn't think anyone would be close to that.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bBTRv5PkH30/WkoV-sN3LEI/AAAAAAAAISc/rCgRmhZzaiEEPa3tuzFX3Te1Rcxzm53kQCLcBGAs/s1600/26176686_10156098159922244_1609315554_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bBTRv5PkH30/WkoV-sN3LEI/AAAAAAAAISc/rCgRmhZzaiEEPa3tuzFX3Te1Rcxzm53kQCLcBGAs/s320/26176686_10156098159922244_1609315554_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve 'The Pole' Parker had 2lb 8oz from peg 1</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jibWTKyv20o/WkoWUyHMwcI/AAAAAAAAISg/-r4eyXYVOCM3rBinevXHxdATYOnbTTX9gCLcBGAs/s1600/26235314_10156098152402244_1326247764_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jibWTKyv20o/WkoWUyHMwcI/AAAAAAAAISg/-r4eyXYVOCM3rBinevXHxdATYOnbTTX9gCLcBGAs/s320/26235314_10156098152402244_1326247764_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scott had a lovely net of fish for 15lb 7oz</td></tr>
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Rob was next and his two skimmers went 2lb 10oz, Bill had really struggled for 6oz (mainly small fish!), Leighton had 3lb and then my fish went 5lb 6oz, Hurf was last to weigh in our section and had 1lb 11oz.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kUYKkG_qWLc/WkoY8Rt1rGI/AAAAAAAAISs/ghYyJihQiKsuhrEgegZ1FX_pOGDiCppPgCLcBGAs/s1600/26197616_10156098151057244_613046086_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kUYKkG_qWLc/WkoY8Rt1rGI/AAAAAAAAISs/ghYyJihQiKsuhrEgegZ1FX_pOGDiCppPgCLcBGAs/s320/26197616_10156098151057244_613046086_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rob had two nice skimmers for 2lb 10oz</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z0nREczdstU/WkoZNrZWKaI/AAAAAAAAISw/zDVOUiaRIxQfQ-LCivYizrvVa-Jfo3kzQCLcBGAs/s1600/26234848_10156098150572244_2112917071_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z0nREczdstU/WkoZNrZWKaI/AAAAAAAAISw/zDVOUiaRIxQfQ-LCivYizrvVa-Jfo3kzQCLcBGAs/s320/26234848_10156098150572244_2112917071_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bill had 6oz of mainly small fish which included this fine specimen!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nh7NA6VUVmg/WkoZbw8pS2I/AAAAAAAAIS0/1XXgxMDkymoezY4z1SCJlYuRkAxO991LACLcBGAs/s1600/26177137_10156098139767244_1609376336_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nh7NA6VUVmg/WkoZbw8pS2I/AAAAAAAAIS0/1XXgxMDkymoezY4z1SCJlYuRkAxO991LACLcBGAs/s320/26177137_10156098139767244_1609376336_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leighton had two skimmers and a few bits for 3lb from peg 7</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4QMC0I-rlEY/WkoZpkhEyhI/AAAAAAAAIS8/fRjZvslEow4ePPVnN_nV5nA4p5c7o9MGACLcBGAs/s1600/26240989_10156098139052244_744117307_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4QMC0I-rlEY/WkoZpkhEyhI/AAAAAAAAIS8/fRjZvslEow4ePPVnN_nV5nA4p5c7o9MGACLcBGAs/s320/26240989_10156098139052244_744117307_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had 75 roach, perch and a rudd for 5lb 6oz</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vh204df9z6c/WkoZ7ENL1TI/AAAAAAAAITA/xhKmzRznJXcE9enK2Ez2LCEojCwPajmNQCLcBGAs/s1600/26235426_10156098136072244_1646338756_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vh204df9z6c/WkoZ7ENL1TI/AAAAAAAAITA/xhKmzRznJXcE9enK2Ez2LCEojCwPajmNQCLcBGAs/s320/26235426_10156098136072244_1646338756_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hurf had 1lb 11oz which included a nice chublet</td></tr>
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After loading the cars, we drove back round the other side for the results, Harry let me have the other weigh board and that section had fished better, Jake had the top weight with 11lb 5oz of skimmers, most of which came in the last hour and I hadn't seen him catch a fish!, Harry did well to finish second with loads of small fish for 7lb 14oz, Adie had a couple of skimmers plus roach for 7lb 2oz from peg 24, Ben had 4lb 11oz of mainly roach from peg 19, Fieldy had 4lb 5oz from 14 and Frank had 2lb 13oz from 18. Thanks to Harry Hebditch for the photos*</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tgl2VrYlnX4/WkofhvtRDVI/AAAAAAAAITQ/xhNk01d5uh8bw3IT8tAuKmiaQYtG3NsjgCLcBGAs/s1600/26241318_10156098132907244_970553914_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tgl2VrYlnX4/WkofhvtRDVI/AAAAAAAAITQ/xhNk01d5uh8bw3IT8tAuKmiaQYtG3NsjgCLcBGAs/s320/26241318_10156098132907244_970553914_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jake had 11lb 5oz of skimmers from peg 13*</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OGVU-kTDBkU/WkofvBUM3QI/AAAAAAAAITU/hhpBhLAqg8wEi3xSoZOABo03ucVYj2ASACLcBGAs/s1600/26241077_10156098133857244_1362847148_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OGVU-kTDBkU/WkofvBUM3QI/AAAAAAAAITU/hhpBhLAqg8wEi3xSoZOABo03ucVYj2ASACLcBGAs/s320/26241077_10156098133857244_1362847148_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harry had loads of small fish for 7lb 14oz*</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6cOOcYGZI6c/Wkof_UD2mDI/AAAAAAAAITY/2MjZ_AldGOobr6FugidLBpanLn7VmZaagCLcBGAs/s1600/26235112_10156098135272244_2135989844_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6cOOcYGZI6c/Wkof_UD2mDI/AAAAAAAAITY/2MjZ_AldGOobr6FugidLBpanLn7VmZaagCLcBGAs/s320/26235112_10156098135272244_2135989844_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adie had 7lb 2oz from peg 24*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NvtIaqVXFhk/WkogQE5aX4I/AAAAAAAAITg/xSKdm1zpsjUDkYbpIxc8pmpAKdSEa67rQCLcBGAs/s1600/26197214_10156098134357244_1659569426_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NvtIaqVXFhk/WkogQE5aX4I/AAAAAAAAITg/xSKdm1zpsjUDkYbpIxc8pmpAKdSEa67rQCLcBGAs/s320/26197214_10156098134357244_1659569426_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben had some quality roach for 4lb 11oz*</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kspJiXFpRR8/Wkogls9NYGI/AAAAAAAAITk/xjE8F9BUHWsNNbcsjYa1OBDxHUla8D1TQCLcBGAs/s1600/26241177_10156098133642244_378240606_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kspJiXFpRR8/Wkogls9NYGI/AAAAAAAAITk/xjE8F9BUHWsNNbcsjYa1OBDxHUla8D1TQCLcBGAs/s320/26241177_10156098133642244_378240606_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graham had 4lb 5oz from peg 14*</td></tr>
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So I picked up £20 for winning the section but I'm just not getting it right and I'm well off the pace on the pond at the moment, the lack of quality roach means you need some skimmers as well to win and I just can't catch them. I think I need to fish longer, lighter and with a more positive rig, if that makes sense and talking to Scott, more groundbait and no loose feed although to be honest I struggled to hold ten metres today so any longer was out of the question. </div>
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1 - Scott Russell (Tackleuk) - 15lb 7oz</div>
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2 - Jake Woodard (Ilminster) - 11lb 5oz</div>
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3 - Harry Hebditch (Ilminster) - 7lb 14oz</div>
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Sections</div>
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A - Jamie Rich (Against Men and Fish) - 5lb 6oz</div>
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B - Adie Bishop (Taunton) - 7lb 2oz</div>
<br />
The league has also tightened up and there's now only one point separating the top four!<br />
<br />
Jake Woodard - 11 pts (dropping 4)<br />
Adie Bishop - 12 pts (dropping 4)<br />
Graham Field - 12 pts (dropping 30)<br />
Jamie Rich - 12 pts (dropping 30)<br />
Bill Hopping - 22 pts (dropping 20)<br />
<br />
Well that's it for 2017, lets see what 2018 brings, I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy New Year, look out for my review of last year and my latest instalment of the Archives series coming soon.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Next up</b></span> - River Isle<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Coming soon</b></span> - My review of last year<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Check Out</b></span> - My last match (below)</div>
Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05206232197364552517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31509096.post-46175655155466343752017-12-29T21:11:00.003+00:002017-12-29T21:11:28.311+00:00Hebditch's Pond - 28th December 2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This time last year, I arranged a match out the pond which proved very popular with seventeen anglers fishing and I got asked by several people if I was doing the same this year but after lots of initial interest, there were only going to be a few of us so I was just going to fish Summerhayes on the Friday instead. To cut a long story short, the match was off then on again several times and to be honest I was getting a bit fed up with it (like I've said many times, who would be a match organiser!). Harry then contacted me and said he was still keen to do something and suggested we fish his pond again to see if it would fish better than last time. <br />
<br />
It was more of a knock up to be honest as a lot of people had family commitments or were fishing elsewhere but I was just looking forward to getting out of the house. A hard frost greeted me in the morning but it didn't actually feel too cold, we met at Cartgate for breakfast and with only a few of us fishing I had suggested leaving peg 1 out to try and make it a fairer match but the general consensus was to leave it in. Harry held out his hat containing folded up bits of paper and we all picked one hoping it would be the flier but nobody could bring themselves to look, then Jake spoiled the party by looking and admitted he had it.<br />
<br />
Okay, failing that, pegs 2 or 10 would do but Frank and Harry had those, Steve P was on peg 4 and not happy, I looked at mine and saw I was on peg 8, I was fairly happy even though it blanked last match as I've done alright there before. On arrival the pond was flat calm apart from several poxy cormorants including one that gulped down a pound carp while we were there but they didn't hang around long. I set up the same rigs as last time, a 0.4 gram Drennan Carp for fishing two lines at 10 metres plus a 0.3 gram Drennan Margin Crystal for dobbing bread by the dead reeds to my left.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PXyEFj3UEg8/WkVjWXbYnSI/AAAAAAAAIQ0/KtX9-4IcnPMMhLo87eZxkyozxE0xlsBkQCLcBGAs/s1600/26135093_10156089334742244_1236943600_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PXyEFj3UEg8/WkVjWXbYnSI/AAAAAAAAIQ0/KtX9-4IcnPMMhLo87eZxkyozxE0xlsBkQCLcBGAs/s320/26135093_10156089334742244_1236943600_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peg 8 and as far away from peg 1 as you can get!</td></tr>
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Harry whistled to get us under way and I put in a few grains of corn with some micros at ten metres angled to my right and a single ball of Bait-Tech Special G Dark with some dead reds at the same distance, angled to my left. I then dobbed some bread all along the reeds but never had a touch, Bill on my right said that Jake was already catching well on peg 1 and as suspected the rest of us were fishing for second place already. I gave it twenty minutes on the bread but was soon trying corn and then double dead red over the longer lines but much like the last time, the float rather stubbornly refused to go under. The first hour passed without so much as an indication so it was time for a quick walk.<br />
<br />
Bill hadn't caught on peg 9 and nor had Frank on 10 although he said he'd briefly foul hooked a fish on the lead, I got to Jake and he'd had eleven carp already! Harry had one on peg 2 and Steve P was still blanking so although first place was out of sight already, second and third were still very much up for grabs. While I was stood with Steve, Jake had carp number twelve and then Frank struck into a fish so thinking perhaps the fish had started to wake up, I headed back to my swim, as I reached Frank's peg he was playing another fish which elevated him into second place.<br />
<br />
Sat back on my box, I tried the longer lines again but no bites and I had to try something else. Jake was catching by the reeds and Frank was blanking until he fished by the reeds so thinking that the carp were in any available cover because of the cold, the cormorants or both, I set up a Carpa 2 to fish by the dead reeds to my left, my only concern was that they both had a good depth by their reeds whereas I only had around two and a half foot in the corner by my dead vegetation.<br />
<br />
I shipped out with a piece of corn on the hook and toss potted in two grains and a pinch of micros, I lifted and dropped the rig every few minutes but no indications and it was starting to feel very similar to the last match here where I didn't have a bite for four hours! I went to lift and drop the rig for the umpteenth time but I was snagged up and as I lifted, one of the reeds moved and then something started to pull some elastic out! I played the fish with kid gloves before netting a nice carp of 2lb or so.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ve9YvDPfxio/WkYXgNyE4PI/AAAAAAAAIRE/t5fPFFez7tQfU56QiBsMw0E4OBGwMPQYACLcBGAs/s1600/26175216_10156089332047244_570376110_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ve9YvDPfxio/WkYXgNyE4PI/AAAAAAAAIRE/t5fPFFez7tQfU56QiBsMw0E4OBGwMPQYACLcBGAs/s320/26175216_10156089332047244_570376110_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After two hours I had my first carp (even though I hadn't had a bite!)</td></tr>
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I've gone in again and after another five minutes, there was a sharp dip of the float before it submerged and carp number two was on. After safely netting it, I went back out ready for another but it didn't happen. Bill still hadn't caught and said he was going round to see how Steve was doing, he stopped to see how the others were doing and then spent ten minutes with Steve before making his way back, just as he was approaching his peg, a slow bite resulted in my third carp. Bill reported that Steve was still blanking, Harry had two carp, Jake was still catching odd fish and Frank now had seven carp so although it looked like first and second places were already filled, third was still a possibility.<br />
<br />
I shipped back, tapped in a few micros and two pieces of corn and was just about to check my phone when the float slid away as carp number four took the bait. Then I had three more, one after another before the bites just stopped, I cupped in some more feed on the longer lines and went back to fishing by the reeds. After about ten minutes, I missed a good bite but that was it, I tried punched bread and then double dead red maggot, I had a good bite but the strike resulted in a small rudd flying out the water. Just then Harry turned up, I went back to corn on the hook and shipped out, explaining to him how I had a purple patch with bites coming just after I'd tapped a little feed in from the toss pot, with that, the float sailed away and carp number eight was soon in the net.<br />
<br />
Two in the next two chucks and I started to think I could mount a late charge as Harry said Frank was on ten carp and Jake now had twenty but there was still an hour left. Harry left me to it but then I couldn't buy a bite again, Bill was getting odd fish now and was up to four. I did try my longer lines again, mainly to rest my other line but I never had a bite so with half an hour left, I came back in by the reeds but no more indications until two minutes to go when I missed my second bite of the day and that was it.<br />
<br />
It got really cold in the last half an hour and when I went to pack up, the toss pot on my other rig was frozen to the ground! Frank shouted up to ask how many I had, I told him and he said he'd ended up with fifteen and Jake had twenty four, I knew they'd beaten me but hopefully I had enough to hang on to third place. As Steve hadn't caught and Harry chucked back, we walked up to Jake and after several weighs his total was 65lb 7oz, Frank had 36lb 13oz which included some good fish, Bill didn't weigh and then my ten carp (and a rudd) went 22lb 10oz and I ended up third and picked up £20.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jake had a lovely days fishing for a comfortable win with 65lb 7oz</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frank had 36lb 13oz from peg 10</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was third with 22lb 10oz</td></tr>
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So quite an enjoyable day and it was nice to be out, I have to say thanks again to the Hebditch family for letting us fish the pond and I'm looking forward to fishing it again in the summer. Well that's nearly it for this year with just the IBC match on New Years Eve to go, there's twelve booked in already including a new face as the popularity of the matches continues to grow and I really hope we can keep this going as it's brilliant and testament to the great and varied fishing the clubs got.<br />
<br />
1 - Jake Woodard (Ilminster) - 65lb 7oz<br />
2 - Frank Woodard (Ilminster) - 36lb 13oz<br />
3 - Jamie Rich (Against Men and Fish) - 22lb 10oz<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Next up</b></span> - River Isle<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Coming soon</b></span> - Yearly review and another trip down memory lane<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Check Out</b></span> - My last match (below)</div>
Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05206232197364552517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31509096.post-17909738769823522002017-12-25T20:48:00.003+00:002017-12-27T18:54:33.793+00:00Perry St Pond - 24th December 2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
With it being Xmas Eve I wasn't going to fish but the thought of going nearly two weeks without my fishing fix didn't really appeal. If possible I wanted to stay local but I knew Ilminster didn't have anything on so I text Les who said they were going out Perry St and I could fish, perfect. Of course it didn't take long for my arch nemesis, The Torquay Tart, to get wind I was fishing and I soon received a text saying not to forget to bring a pound for him, on the plus side he said Smithy was also fishing and bringing cakes!<br />
<br />
We met at Wetherspoons and I have to say I really enjoyed the breakfast, lots of it and coffee for less than a fiver, great value. It was great to see everyone and to be honest, as I haven't fished it since the summer, I didn't have a clue what would be a good peg this time of year. Everybody was saying 19 would be hard to beat today and also peg 10 had won the last match but once again my drawing arm had deserted me when I opened my peg and saw number 14 staring back at me. To be fair it's normally a pretty good peg so I wasn't too upset.<br />
<br />
Hoff was the lucky angler to pull out 19 and the Tart was looking very pleased with himself as he'd drawn peg 4 with three empty pegs to his right and one to his left! Les and Commander Smith were the two anglers on corner pegs 10 and 11 and my neighbours for the day were Bushy on 16 and Mark on 13. The Tart asked if I wanted to enter their van sweep so I stuck my quid in the hat.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3k_RtX8K0a8/WkAenmZL_VI/AAAAAAAAIPA/dgoK1bBdRU4q1MKkLnCMCdjxhnwY4KJVACLcBGAs/s1600/26030810_10156077814302244_773744887_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="280" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3k_RtX8K0a8/WkAenmZL_VI/AAAAAAAAIPA/dgoK1bBdRU4q1MKkLnCMCdjxhnwY4KJVACLcBGAs/s320/26030810_10156077814302244_773744887_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Tango Tart looking even more smug than usual (if that's possible!)</td></tr>
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We got to our pegs and the pond was very clear although there was the odd small fish topping which I hoped was a good sign. I set up a 0.4 gram Drennan Carp to fish two lines at 10 metres, one angled to the right with corn over micros and the other to the left with dead maggot over Special G Dark, I also had some Bait-Tech 4mm expanders for a change of hookbait.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pond was gin clear and flat calm </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JkJ8zYngYyU/WkAiBYZB0hI/AAAAAAAAIPI/KaTeyH5PqnIbDl9CfuakdghcVMRQ83mmQCLcBGAs/s1600/25990707_10156077807492244_2026953455_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JkJ8zYngYyU/WkAiBYZB0hI/AAAAAAAAIPI/KaTeyH5PqnIbDl9CfuakdghcVMRQ83mmQCLcBGAs/s320/25990707_10156077807492244_2026953455_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bait-Tech corn, The Juice and Special G Dark</td></tr>
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On the whistle I fed both lines before starting over the micros with a single grain of corn, I thought it might take a while to get bites but the Tart was into a carp quite quickly and so was the Hoff. After twenty minutes I hadn't had a bite on corn so switched to double dead red maggot over the groundbait but by this stage my orange nemesis had already had two carp and I feared the writing was on the wall already. But then I had an indication before the float slid away and the strike resulted in a decent fish on, it wasn't a carp but a skimmer of 12oz or so was very welcome all the same. I had another skimmer, this one about 6oz and although I was a long way behind Brendon and Hoff who had both added skimmers to their carp, nobody else had caught much, Bushy and Butch over on peg 6 were catching roach and the odd small skimmer.<br />
<br />
I added a third hand sized skimmer before the end of the first hour, a quick try with dead maggot over the micros line resulted in a small roach back and then I had another over the groundbait, I put an expander on and missed a bite but I think it was roach and I wouldn't be winning anything with those, especially as Yardie on peg 8 landed two carp in quick succession. Bish turned up for a walk around and it was nice to have a chat as I hadn't seen him for ages, he soon got bored of watching me catch nowt and left me to it.<br />
<br />
I tried maggot again and lost a skimmer before catching another around 6oz along with a couple of roach but I was going nowhere and when Yardie added a third carp and I heard Captain Smith up on peg 11 had a couple as well, I knew I needed to catch carp. I stuck with corn for the next couple of hours but never even had an indication and the Tart was still catching quite well and getting cockier by the minute. You could tell he was doing well because he kept saying Hoff had more than him to try and put us off the scent.<br />
<br />
With two hours to go, Bushy, me, Mark and Butch opposite still hadn't hooked a carp so in a bid to try and make something happen I stuck on a couple more sections and fished towards the left hand rope with corn on the hook and just toss potting in a couple of grains with a few micros and I did have a couple of little knocks and missed a good bite but that was it. I tried scaling down to 0.10mm and a size 18 808 and even went to 14.5 metres towards the aerator but it was like the middle pegs were devoid of carp and I wasn't too upset to hear the final whistle.<br />
<br />
I packed up and took my gear pack to the car before we congregated by the Tart's peg and when I asked what weight he had, he was admitting to 32lb, he had ten carp and skimmer and his first net was more than his estimate, he ended up with 51lb so not too far out then! Butch had 3lb 6oz of skimmers and roach, Chris had 11lb 6oz and then Les had one carp for 4lb from peg 10. Smithy had caught a decent skimmer late which came in handy as he weighed 13lb 10oz to push Yardie down into fourth place.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kXW4Ik_IXyY/WkFbK_f3s5I/AAAAAAAAIPo/F297KDeJUvMjFSqiW2sxrXL8Rz385ThyACLcBGAs/s1600/26030682_10156077805852244_285469445_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kXW4Ik_IXyY/WkFbK_f3s5I/AAAAAAAAIPo/F297KDeJUvMjFSqiW2sxrXL8Rz385ThyACLcBGAs/s320/26030682_10156077805852244_285469445_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Tart with part of his winning 51lb</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dDznyeao9Wk/WkFbY0T-sMI/AAAAAAAAIPs/lVIlNSNndCoJWRGa03eFh9i5k7-hPhGywCLcBGAs/s1600/26034533_10156077795332244_1544976099_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dDznyeao9Wk/WkFbY0T-sMI/AAAAAAAAIPs/lVIlNSNndCoJWRGa03eFh9i5k7-hPhGywCLcBGAs/s320/26034533_10156077795332244_1544976099_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Superintendent Smith had 13lb 10oz from peg 11</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tX6vByvMqY4/WkFdZe7rz2I/AAAAAAAAIPw/UVb7aPhSs2YGAIv_avYbIXeY2cszoJoHgCLcBGAs/s1600/26056686_10156077794232244_1328726185_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tX6vByvMqY4/WkFdZe7rz2I/AAAAAAAAIPw/UVb7aPhSs2YGAIv_avYbIXeY2cszoJoHgCLcBGAs/s320/26056686_10156077794232244_1328726185_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Hoff was second with 29lb 10oz from peg 19</td></tr>
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Mark had 3lb 10oz of silvers and then my four skimmers and three roach went 2lb 6oz and Bushy didn't weigh, Hoffy on the other end peg had 29lb 10oz to take second spot. So the Grinch ruined Xmas by winning but then Santa Smithy restored my faith in humanity by handing out gifts in the shape of donuts and cookies, what a nice man, although I drew the line when he asked me to sit on his knee and tell him what I wanted for Xmas! The thought of Smithy in a red suit coming down my chimney with a bulging sack is quite frankly, the stuff of nightmares!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Iv870hMrWrg/WkFf21m9d8I/AAAAAAAAIP0/Iapok2vu5uUYw_njA3ZP50z7S5Bz1J1eQCLcBGAs/s1600/26056467_10156077787207244_449151337_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Iv870hMrWrg/WkFf21m9d8I/AAAAAAAAIP0/Iapok2vu5uUYw_njA3ZP50z7S5Bz1J1eQCLcBGAs/s320/26056467_10156077787207244_449151337_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa Smithy provided the best bite of the day with these lovely after match treats</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Even though the Tart took my pound off me in the van sweep he had the audacity to claim I owed him a pound!, well I suppose it doesn't happen very often so he has to make the most of it when it does.<br />
<br />
1 - Brendon Ions (Torquay) - 51lb<br />
2 - Mark Hollister (Chard) - 29lb 10oz<br />
3 - Mike Smith (Torquay) - 13lb 10oz<br />
4 - Chris Whitham (Torquay) - 11lb 6oz<br />
<br />
Well as I'm posting this on Xmas Day, I hope you've all had a lovely day, received loads of fishing gifts and eaten and drunk yourselves silly! <strong><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Merry Xmas</span></strong> <br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Next up</b></span> - The next scheduled match is on the Isle on the 31st but hopefully I'll get out in the week somewhere too<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Coming soon</b></span> - Yearly review and another trip down memory lane<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Check Out</b></span> - My look at seat boxes (below)<br />
</div>
Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05206232197364552517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31509096.post-57691994649334545302017-12-23T10:16:00.001+00:002017-12-23T10:16:05.689+00:00The Perfect Seatbox?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
With Preston just releasing their new carbon seatbox with a, frankly ludicrous, £2200 price tag, it got me thinking, is there such a thing as a perfect seatbox? Preston, by the way, have to be applauded because although they won't sell very many, the social media coverage they have had as a result is huge which I'm sure was the intention in the first place!<br />
<br />
We can all probably remember our first seatboxes and looking back over my 38 years of fishing, I've had a surprisingly small number of places to sit my bum, some would say it's because I'm tight (I prefer frugal!) or maybe I just get my money's worth. I've never really been a tackle tart and I can't afford to change my pole or box every time a new model comes out.<br />
<br />
Although most peoples first seatbox was an iconic wicker basket (or creel), the first one I had was a wooden box given to me by Trevor Hyams way back in 1980. It was replaced by a canvas and metal framed monstrosity made by Efgeeco, that I received as a Xmas present one year. It wasn't long after that, Brennan and Hickman started producing fibreglass seatboxes and although I never had one, I did upgrade to a blue fibreglass box, from Rule's in Langport of course!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MXXVL0aFsDI/Wh7rm9hIazI/AAAAAAAAIDo/FVOGC1bKDxkLY4VMGAOQ9I9spmAYcCufwCLcBGAs/s1600/35m1jtj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MXXVL0aFsDI/Wh7rm9hIazI/AAAAAAAAIDo/FVOGC1bKDxkLY4VMGAOQ9I9spmAYcCufwCLcBGAs/s320/35m1jtj.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Efgeeco was something like the one in the middle at the top of the picture above</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IVZNsACw7m8/WiB3OsQ7XBI/AAAAAAAAIEQ/56x_BuaYoiU3aT68j52BXClMtLmvADNKACLcBGAs/s1600/%2524_86.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IVZNsACw7m8/WiB3OsQ7XBI/AAAAAAAAIEQ/56x_BuaYoiU3aT68j52BXClMtLmvADNKACLcBGAs/s320/%2524_86.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Brennan and Hickman box</td></tr>
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Around the time I bought my blue box, a real game changer hit the market when Shakespeare released their blue moulded plastic seatbox, they must have shifted hundreds of thousands of them as every man and his dog had one and they could be seen on river banks and towpaths all over the country. Later they released grey and green versions and also several accessories like a tackle box that could be clipped on the top to hold all your terminal tackle and bits and bobs.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Mrdm0mgVwo/WiB79HpxENI/AAAAAAAAIEg/cyRvzQMOeQgJ4hIMOaf55eo-IZu24urkQCLcBGAs/s1600/311295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="500" height="280" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Mrdm0mgVwo/WiB79HpxENI/AAAAAAAAIEg/cyRvzQMOeQgJ4hIMOaf55eo-IZu24urkQCLcBGAs/s320/311295.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Shakespeare Team seatbox, reasonably priced, sturdy and waterproof - genius</td></tr>
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The next massive innovation came when Octoplus released a set of adjustable legs that could be fitted to your seat box to ensure you were level, no more looking for stones or bits of wood to wedge under the box on uneven ground. I had a set but as I was clueless at doing anything remotely practical, Frank Woodard came round and fitted the legs to my fibreglass box. The standard legs which were about six inches in length were fine if you were setting up on fairly solid ground but if it was muddy or boggy you were in trouble as they were quite thin and sunk into soft ground. Of course you could buy longer legs, mud feet and a whole host of other accessories which fitted on the legs and turned your box into a fishing station. Attachments like feeder arms and side trays made fishing so much easier.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b_82Ts_KFyE/WiB-tcjjcUI/AAAAAAAAIEs/Rbzt4ydQXvA0gcRPx9axcHGos_AMp6f1QCLcBGAs/s1600/104290039_614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="614" height="239" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b_82Ts_KFyE/WiB-tcjjcUI/AAAAAAAAIEs/Rbzt4ydQXvA0gcRPx9axcHGos_AMp6f1QCLcBGAs/s320/104290039_614.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Shakespeare box with Octoplus legs and various trays and attachments</td></tr>
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We had now come a long way from the humble wicker basket but things were about to get even more advanced with the arrival of the first continental style seat boxes, the ASI (or AS1 which I believe was the proper name) burst onto the scene and I must admit to suffering from serious box envy when I saw my first one but they were way out of my price range at over £300. They were a very cleverly designed with loads of features, legs that extended from the box itself, several wooden trays, a brolly spike holder in the back of the box, a padded seat and it came with a groundbait tray that fitted on the bottom of the box for transit, it could also be used as a side tray. They came in various colour schemes and changed the face of seatbox design forever.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vYPV8gi6rtk/Wih3tzf118I/AAAAAAAAIK0/KKP3qAxRGjY0lBY0nd1i6O3RfNIGqs8XwCLcBGAs/s1600/201032223953_ASI%2525202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vYPV8gi6rtk/Wih3tzf118I/AAAAAAAAIK0/KKP3qAxRGjY0lBY0nd1i6O3RfNIGqs8XwCLcBGAs/s320/201032223953_ASI%2525202.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The AS1 was totally different than anything I'd seen before!</td></tr>
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Some fantastic boxes came onto the scene over the next few years made by firms like Boss, Brilo and Matchbox with most having an integral footplate which was another massive leap forward as up until that point, most anglers took a separate platform with them. I still had my blue fibreglass box which had lasted me years but when my mate Andy bought a second hand Milo Tardis box, I had to have one, it was built to the same basic formula as the other boxes I've just mentioned, folding footplate, deep base unit, three side drawers, two front drawers, pole seat, space for winders and extendable legs that were very stable even at full length. It had loads of storage space and it certainly lived up to its Tardis name, it even had a side tray which held a groundbait tray underneath that slid under the box in transit, a brilliant idea, you could use it as a groundbait bowl or on wet or windy days you could put bait etc in it and slid it under the side tray so that it didn't get wet, almost like an early version of these very expensive trays with a lid that are so popular now!<br />
<br />
Not long after, the opportunity arose to buy a nearly new Tardis for £350 so I bit the bullet and delved into my savings. It was a heavy box but even with the legs fully extended, it was rock solid and you could stand on it no problems at all. I had that box for years and it was still going strong when I got rid of it, admittedly it was a bit like Trigger's broom from Only Fools and Horses, it had a new gel seat courtesy of Andy who'd packed in fishing and I'd bought some new legs over the years when the locking nuts had seized but it was a brilliant box.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UjKdTeFyEhc/WixSnldyohI/AAAAAAAAILE/ecSwCTv1sKQGwyp0kNehn1h3FtbefW05ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UjKdTeFyEhc/WixSnldyohI/AAAAAAAAILE/ecSwCTv1sKQGwyp0kNehn1h3FtbefW05ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0912.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Milo Tardis in 'action' on the Isle at Redbridge (note the side tray behind it)</td></tr>
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So after many years of faithful service, I'd decided to retire the Tardis and treat myself to a new box, but what to get? if money had been no object, I'd have probably gone for a Rive but I just couldn't justify spending around a grand on a box (not that I had that kind of money to spare anyway!). With my budget, the front runners were the Preston box, the Daiwa Tournament and the Matrix Superbox which was the new kid on the block and after talking to loads of people, that was the one I decided to go for.<br />
<br />
The day arrived to pick it up from the tackle shop and then I realised I didn't have any attachments that fitted so bought various keepnet arms and a side tray which added another £60 or so and this was getting expensive, also unlike several of the other seat boxes on the market, winders weren't supplied. I got my shiny new box home and set it all up in the garden and I have to say it looked nice but then I noticed my first niggle, one of the side drawers wouldn't shut properly due to the rubber seal, I contacted somebody at the shop and they said not to worry and that it would soon 'bed in', well over three years later, it still hasn't!<br />
<br />
So my relationship with my new box hadn't got off to the greatest of starts but there were other little annoyances too, I hadn't had the box long and the footplate warped, looking online, it seemed to be quite a common problem, then one of the cheap carabiner clips that attached the strap to the box broke, although Matrix were very good and sent a replacement free, I couldn't believe they'd scrimped on such a vital clip, especially when really good quality carabiners are only a couple of quid from outdoor type shops. I've since had another clip break and again, Matrix did send me another but I'm not looking forward to the day it happens and I have to carry my box across two fields!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r3OdjwqA190/Wixtnjf9DuI/AAAAAAAAILU/aLDNaSEEjHw8UsIYDSBLEKd_QmEYZNvHgCLcBGAs/s1600/photo12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r3OdjwqA190/Wixtnjf9DuI/AAAAAAAAILU/aLDNaSEEjHw8UsIYDSBLEKd_QmEYZNvHgCLcBGAs/s320/photo12.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Matrix Superbox (I use the term loosely!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The problems didn't end there, I was at Dillington one day, sat out in the water and I have to say it's a nice stable box to sit on but when I came to pack up, I went to take my box out of the water and the legs were stuck in the soft mud, no problem you'd think but as I heaved, all the mud feet detached from the legs! After digging round in the mud, I managed to retrieve them but now every time I fish on soft mud, the same thing happens, another example of cutting corners, why weren't they riveted instead of just being pushed in, I'm not even sure they were glued! I also bought some Matrix winders which had sliders on the side (great idea by the way) which did away with the need for pole anchors to attach your rigs but these kept pinging off, effectively rendering the winder useless. I've got some similar winders from a different manufacturer and they are much better quality.<br />
<br />
I can also foresee further problems ahead, the carrying strap attaches to some webbing/straps that are attached to the box's frame, it looks quite hardy and has lasted three years so far but what happens if it breaks or rots or the mice have a chew on it? It doesn't look a simple job to replace it, so I then won't be able to attach the carrying strap and it's not a light box to lug about. With most boxes, if the carrying strap breaks, it's not a big deal to buy a new strap.<br />
<br />
Now, given all I've just said, I've actually grown to quite like the box but it could be so much better, surely the team of designers and consultants at Matrix are made up of top anglers and know what anglers want from a box, just a few tweaks and the Superbox would live up to it's name but if I went out and bought the latest version tomorrow, I bet many of the little niggles I've mentioned above, still haven't been addressed.<br />
<br />
So going back to the title of this post, is there such a thing as 'The Perfect Seatbox?', at the moment, the two that I hear talked about a lot are the Rive and the Octobox but are either the ultimate seatbox? Lets have a look at each in turn, the Rive certainly looks like a lovely bit of kit and has a price tag to match, which in itself puts a lot of people off and if you want to add accessories that will add a rather formidable sum to your initial outlay as. I'm also a little mystified about the much talked about 'Open Leg System', as far as I can see it's a system that allows you to take legs out to add attachments etc without having to lift the box up. Now I've never seen this as a particular issue, Rive have created this fantastically engineered answer to a problem that doesn't really exist!<br />
<br />
The average Rive box will cost you over a grand which a lot of people don't spend on a pole, although they might be secretly pleased with Preston's new arrival as all of a sudden Rive's boxes look a bargain at half the price! The Guru edition is a sexy looking box but at £1149 for the basic model, it should be!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_NFELFrtMjA/WjVWkdnEHzI/AAAAAAAAIMo/3VPW5EgO_iUmCwE8a0Y8TfuzoBFKpOE_QCLcBGAs/s1600/kw1wek4a636364966254563112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="638" height="267" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_NFELFrtMjA/WjVWkdnEHzI/AAAAAAAAIMo/3VPW5EgO_iUmCwE8a0Y8TfuzoBFKpOE_QCLcBGAs/s320/kw1wek4a636364966254563112.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Guru Rive, lovely looking box</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
What about the Octbox that loads of top names have started using, it looks very well made and built to last but a lot of people don't like the 'Meccano'-esque' look of the box, that really doesn't bother me although compared to the racing car looks of the Rive, it definitely comes second in that department. Also for me, it extends to far out the front where there is a space for a keepnet, which for me isn't needed as these days people need three or more keepnets to fish most commercials. The basic D25 model (with 25mm legs) comes in at a reasonable £350 while the D36 will set you back around £695. With everything fully extended, the Octbox wouldn't look out of place in the North Sea!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h-VKT_U609A/WjVXU-HlyeI/AAAAAAAAIMw/eQBAcMuG6zUQCh2W9PEoUB7uxxBwdvt4gCLcBGAs/s1600/5_drawer_seat_box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1586" data-original-width="1600" height="317" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h-VKT_U609A/WjVXU-HlyeI/AAAAAAAAIMw/eQBAcMuG6zUQCh2W9PEoUB7uxxBwdvt4gCLcBGAs/s320/5_drawer_seat_box.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Octbox</td></tr>
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What about some of the other top brands then? well Milo, Garbolino and MAP all have seatbox ranges but none of them really appeal to me, MAP do produce a really nice carbon model of their own but at £1249, I would buy a Rive. So there you have it, my thoughts on seatboxes, hopefully it's given you something to think about, I don't think there is a 'Perfect Seatbox' out there at the moment but if money was no object I would probably go for the Guru Rive but as a lottery win is unlikely, I'll have to stick with my Matrix for now.<br />
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Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05206232197364552517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31509096.post-21042386745569926202017-12-19T22:45:00.003+00:002017-12-22T20:48:52.093+00:00Hebditch's Pond - Charity Match - 17th December 2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I was talking to Harry recently and happened to mention it would be nice to fish the pond again and with a free date this Sunday and Harry actually having the day off, a match was arranged and as always we would all make a donation to a charity of his choosing. With only limited places available, these were offered to the regulars and it filled up in no time. I was really looking forward to it but then it got really cold and I had visions of us having to break the ice but by midweek, the temperature rose of couple of degrees and hopefully we wouldn't have to get our Eskimo gear out!<br />
<br />
I woke up early Sunday morning and was relieved to see we hadn't had a frost, I got to Cartgate in good time and most people were already there including our very own 'Elf on a shelf'. We paid our pools and also stuck £2 each in a kitty for a guess the weight competition for the top silvers and carp weights, I went for 32lb 8oz of carp and 4lb 12oz for silvers, guesses varied a fair bit with somebody saying 100lb for carp which I thought was a tad optimistic and 13lb for silvers. <br />
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After breakfast it was time for the all important draw and as always, everybody wanted the prolific reed bed pegs (1 and 10). I delved into the bucket and pulled out a ball but didn't look, as people started writing their numbers down, nobody was admitting to number 1 and I was hoping it was finally going to be my day as I've never drawn it. Alas as I opened my fingers, the number six was staring back at me. Rob was the lucky angler to draw peg 1 and would be able to check his Wi-Fi password still worked and Hurf was on peg 10.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X4Kt2JX1SOA/Wjb897dUU2I/AAAAAAAAINA/ONygurjUNEw-Fpwgfk-KfiAY4H-CXENwQCLcBGAs/s1600/25488809_10156058140262244_1282349161_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X4Kt2JX1SOA/Wjb897dUU2I/AAAAAAAAINA/ONygurjUNEw-Fpwgfk-KfiAY4H-CXENwQCLcBGAs/s320/25488809_10156058140262244_1282349161_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ilminster's Elf on a shelf!</td></tr>
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After a short drive we arrived at the pond and Harry said I was on the left up in the corner, an area I draw a lot and to be honest I've struggled here a few times. It looked nice with a tree in the water on my right and the end bank to fish to on my left. The wind was keen, cold and blowing straight into the corner which I didn't think would do me any favours. On the side tray, I had corn, dead red maggots, Bait-Tech 2mm Carp and Coarse pellets that I'd soaked and added some Special G Dark to plus a couple of slices of bread for dobbing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gqrK4xnTvuk/Wjg2mXbFzaI/AAAAAAAAINQ/2RhwHZYU7zM4IBbfT3iko0Q3z0ZCgBSdwCLcBGAs/s1600/25497171_10156058140202244_1661342306_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gqrK4xnTvuk/Wjg2mXbFzaI/AAAAAAAAINQ/2RhwHZYU7zM4IBbfT3iko0Q3z0ZCgBSdwCLcBGAs/s320/25497171_10156058140202244_1661342306_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up the pond from chilly corner</td></tr>
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I set up a 0.4 gram Drennan Carp for fishing two lines at 10 metres, one with micros and corn and the other with dead reds plus a 0.3 gram Drennan Margin Crystal for dobbing bread. My neighbours were Bill 'The Paste King' on my right and Jake on the left, he had some reeds in his swim and apparently carp could be seen in amongst them so hopefully we'd get a few today. The match got underway and I cupped in a few micros and a few grains of corn at 10 metres angled to my right and some dead reds at the same distance but angled to the left.<br />
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I started with punched bread on the dobbing rig in the corner at about 10 metres, lifting and dropping by the cover, nothing after 10 minutes so I added another section to search further along the bank and then went to 13 metres but nothing, not a touch. I saw Frank up on peg 3 net a fish on the lead, Karl on peg 2 had one on the pole and Steve P on peg 9 had lost a couple, after three quarters of an hour, I hadn't had an indication of any kind and I was cold so decided to have a quick walk to warm up.<br />
<br />
First stop was Bill who'd had a carp on, you've guessed it, paste, Stuart on peg 8 hadn't had a bite, Steve P had one carp but had lost two and Hurf was still waiting for his first bite. I got to Rob and as I hadn't seen him catch, I thought he might have sneaked in a fish or two and was quite surprised when he said he'd already had nine carp! As I was with him he lifted and dropped the rig, the float settled and slid away and carp number ten was on, so at least I'd seen a bite! Karl was next with four carp and Frank had two on popped up bread so there were obviously a few fish at that end!<br />
<br />
As I headed back to my peg, Harry hadn't caught on peg 4 and Jake was still blanking, I sat back on my box and poured a coffee before having my first bite of the day when I opened my chocolate bar, and very nice it was too! Over the next hour or so I tried corn and double dead red maggots on both of my longer lines but the float never even trembled! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DI4lMp47wkM/WjhYvLyHmMI/AAAAAAAAINg/RLhTwXD0V4EZ8MeUmsgQbVu6pP84eTa8wCLcBGAs/s1600/25529965_10156058138882244_1553762610_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DI4lMp47wkM/WjhYvLyHmMI/AAAAAAAAINg/RLhTwXD0V4EZ8MeUmsgQbVu6pP84eTa8wCLcBGAs/s320/25529965_10156058138882244_1553762610_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best bite of the day!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As we approached the halfway mark, I could see Rob was still catching well and Karl and Steve P were getting odd fish but nobody else seemed to be doing much. Both Jake and Harry were still biteless and walking so I went for another wander as well, Bill now had three carp on paste but said bites were very few and far between so it was just a case of sitting and waiting. As far as the silvers were concerned, Bill said Hurf was admitting to one roach so it wouldn't take a lot to win that pot!<br />
<br />
I went back determined to catch something, I did contemplate scaling right down but Jake said he'd tried that and it hadn't done him any good. It also rained on and off and combined with staring my first blank for ages in the face, this wasn't turning out to be the day I'd hoped for! Harry had another wander to try and keep warm and said he'd had two carp out of the blue on double red maggot but now couldn't buy a bite again, he also said Jake was still blanking so it wasn't just me.<br />
<br />
Then after four hours it happened, there was a slight dip on the float and I thought I was seeing things but then it very slowly sunk from view, the strike resulted in a fair bit of yellow elastic coming out and I'd only gone and hooked a carp! I played it very carefully and slid the net under a 2lb carp, not a big fish but it had saved the blank and there was still an hour and a half left to go. Any thoughts of staging a comeback soon disappeared when I shipped out again and the float just sat there.<br />
<br />
Another five minutes passed and I was just thinking that was going to be my only action of the day when the float went under again but this time, the strike wasn't met with solid resistance but with a small rudd flying out of the water, I started to ship back but any visions of winning the silvers pool didn't last as it came off! The same think happened a few minutes later and had I just fluffed, not one but two chances of winning some money?<br />
<br />
I put on two dead red maggots and finally opened my silvers account with a small rudd, I added a few more and then with about fifteen minutes to go I had another carp, this one around 3lb and that was it for me. I packed up but any faint hopes of winning the silvers faded away when Harry said Bill had 2lb of rudd. Young Stu hadn't caught in peg 8 so we started the weigh in with Steve P who had 11lb 7oz but had lost several carp which could be costly on a tough day like today, Hurf had caught four carp in the last twenty minutes for 9lb 14oz but also had 3oz of silvers. Then we got to Rob and after three weighs his total was 42lb which would easily be enough to win today.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CCp7-EZjJ3E/WjmEQNp4BMI/AAAAAAAAINw/F7mO1xqS4QIV9XoqxpZ9NWf0YtyeIIFAwCLcBGAs/s1600/25463971_10156058138802244_2088585176_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CCp7-EZjJ3E/WjmEQNp4BMI/AAAAAAAAINw/F7mO1xqS4QIV9XoqxpZ9NWf0YtyeIIFAwCLcBGAs/s320/25463971_10156058138802244_2088585176_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve P had 11lb 7oz from peg 9</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Ee8m-dIBpU/WjmEdE52c0I/AAAAAAAAIN0/-jxK7kv5RGwSW0v6ivqrSHfDsW4JYSoWACLcBGAs/s1600/25465942_10156058138767244_183412639_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Ee8m-dIBpU/WjmEdE52c0I/AAAAAAAAIN0/-jxK7kv5RGwSW0v6ivqrSHfDsW4JYSoWACLcBGAs/s320/25465942_10156058138767244_183412639_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hurf had 10lb 1oz in the last twenty minutes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ImjnQviHXDM/WjmErr0SKYI/AAAAAAAAIN4/LCI4KMQA6Qg1QEH8LyP86RmFdf8xiyLNwCLcBGAs/s1600/25497085_10156058132017244_1493938122_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ImjnQviHXDM/WjmErr0SKYI/AAAAAAAAIN4/LCI4KMQA6Qg1QEH8LyP86RmFdf8xiyLNwCLcBGAs/s320/25497085_10156058132017244_1493938122_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rob with part of his winning 42lb from peg 1</td></tr>
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Next up was Karl on peg 2 who had 18lb 7oz to go into second place, Frank had four carp for 9lb 2oz from peg 3, Harry and Jake didn't weigh and then it was my turn, my two carp weighed 5lb 5oz but then my 5oz of rudd put me in the lead for the silvers but I knew Bill had more than that and he did with 1lb 11oz, I was just thinking that was that but when Bill said he had four carp, if they weighed 10lb he would frame and I'd pick up the silvers pool by default! He plonked them in the weigh sling and the needle pulled round to 11lb 2oz to give him a total of 12lb 13oz and third place.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dzyV86zqAh8/WjmG3ZOdkKI/AAAAAAAAIOE/X9pGknT_x8IkhliNhJljx-dwXQj-7CBbQCLcBGAs/s1600/25555351_10156058129067244_1518884333_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dzyV86zqAh8/WjmG3ZOdkKI/AAAAAAAAIOE/X9pGknT_x8IkhliNhJljx-dwXQj-7CBbQCLcBGAs/s320/25555351_10156058129067244_1518884333_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karl had 18lb 7oz for second place from peg 2</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OqQi5WmmvVU/WjmHgGQuskI/AAAAAAAAIOM/iF_yfo2JjEkiFiadEzvO5EUSTi-HuHcnwCLcBGAs/s1600/25488570_10156058126737244_1429716508_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OqQi5WmmvVU/WjmHgGQuskI/AAAAAAAAIOM/iF_yfo2JjEkiFiadEzvO5EUSTi-HuHcnwCLcBGAs/s320/25488570_10156058126737244_1429716508_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I only had two carp for 5lb 5oz</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UXyjubYLZyA/WjmHwgjUx9I/AAAAAAAAIOQ/PL2YfrWIui4HiC_Xkzv57mmYAp9T7GG9ACLcBGAs/s1600/25519775_10156058125957244_1758132091_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UXyjubYLZyA/WjmHwgjUx9I/AAAAAAAAIOQ/PL2YfrWIui4HiC_Xkzv57mmYAp9T7GG9ACLcBGAs/s320/25519775_10156058125957244_1758132091_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bill 'The Paste King' was third with 12lb 13oz</td></tr>
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Back at the results, after the top three were paid out, I picked up £20 for winning the silvers and then the winners of the guess the weights were called out, Harry was closest to the carp weight with his guess of 44lb and mine was the lowest silvers guess with 4lb 12oz so we picked up a tenner each but when Harry gave his back for the charity, I did the same which bumped the total up to £70.<br />
<br />
1 - Rob Cox (Ilminster) - 42lb<br />
2 - Karl Aplin (Ilminster) - 18lb 7oz<br />
3 - Bill Hopping (Ilminster) - 12lb 13oz<br />
<br />
Silvers <br />
Jamie Rich (Against Men and Fish) - 5oz<br />
<br />
So a difficult day for most but a nice sum raised and the charity chosen this time around was the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association after a close friend of many in the club, Nick Barrett, lost his son to this cruel condition. If you would like to donate or find out more please click on the link.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.pwsa.co.uk/" target="_blank">Prader-Willi Syndrome Association</a><br />
<br />
A massive thank you to the Hebditch family for letting us fish the pond and also to all the anglers for sticking it out and their generosity.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Next up</b></span> - Perry St<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Coming soon</b></span> - Yearly review and another trip down memory lane<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Check Out</b></span> - My last match (below)<br />
<br />
Before I go I would just like to wish everybody who reads the blog a <strong><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Merry Xmas</span></strong> and thanks to everyone who has taken time to comment, message or say hello on the bank, I really appreciate it.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogawardsuk.co.uk/ukba2018/entries/against-men-and-fish" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.blogawardsuk.co.uk/ukba2018/entries/against-men-and-fish" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vzVetPKvlps/WjmR2ITPfKI/AAAAAAAAIOg/dLmV0p8AhAQnc0XUMWY1jTsMbAz_4Q8cgCLcBGAs/s320/votenow-1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05206232197364552517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31509096.post-36010660523244000232017-12-12T21:58:00.000+00:002017-12-15T20:29:18.159+00:00Dillington Pond - IBC Winter League 5 - 10th December 2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
With temperatures plummeting and matches being cancelled all over the place due to snow, this had the makings of being a real grueller. The weather wasn't too bad on Saturday but waking up this morning is was chucking it down and judging by all the water around, it had been all night and with strong winds to contend with as well, we were in for an uncomfortable day. I got to the Bowling Club and the decision was made to move the match to the pond which was definitely the right decision and hopefully we should get plenty of bites.<br />
<br />
I drew number 2, which is a great peg and one I haven't fished for a while, Baz was on peg 1 with Bill on 24 and these three pegs are normally pretty sheltered which would be a massive bonus on a day like today. We got out the pond and all headed to our pegs, Adie was on 19 again but said he wouldn't be able to fish the pole as the wind was horrendous, I must admit I felt for Steve P and Frank who were on pegs 13 and 14 on the bottom bank and would have the wind straight in their faces.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hCYshuiF_Tk/Wi2o6yBN-fI/AAAAAAAAILk/mAD3SdisRNkWrLK-fOmVdmhPOBziLYlBACLcBGAs/s1600/25181622_10156036369987244_1859031730_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hCYshuiF_Tk/Wi2o6yBN-fI/AAAAAAAAILk/mAD3SdisRNkWrLK-fOmVdmhPOBziLYlBACLcBGAs/s320/25181622_10156036369987244_1859031730_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from peg 2</td></tr>
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I mixed up some Bait-Tech Pro Natural Dark before setting up my rigs, a 4 x 16 Preston Chianti for 8.5 metres just off the bush on my right where I would feed two balls of groundbait containing a few pinkies and casters, a 0.5 gram Drennan Roach for fishing over groundbait at 8.5 metres (because of the wind) straight out and a 0.4 gram Drennan Pencil to fish off the end of the bush to my left where I would feed chopped worm and caster but after last week, I wouldn't fish it unless loads of big fish started getting caught. <br />
<br />
Rob got us underway with a single toot on his whistle and I fed all three lines before starting by the bush to my right with single disco pinkie on the hook, bites from small roach came quickly but I was soon trying single and then double maggot in a bid to catch a better stamp, I had a couple of 2-3oz fish so I tried caster but had to wait ages for bites and the fish were no bigger so it was back to maggot. Baz was catching quite well and had netted a couple of rudd, I couldn't really see anybody else apart from Adie on 19 and Karl on 18 and they were both fishing the feeder although I hadn't seen them catch yet.<br />
<br />
Although windy, the rain wasn't too bad to start with but then after about 30 minutes, it ramped up several notches and I had to put my coat on and the lids on my maggots and pinkies to try and stop them escaping. I was catching quite well and after an hour I had 24 fish for probably a pound and a half but as I thought 8-10lb would be needed to get in the money, my catch rate would need to improve if I was going to do any good today. I was feeding casters and hemp and kept trying caster on the hook but they weren't really having it yet.<br />
<br />
In the second hour, my bites slowed up and much like the last match, I started getting some small perch so I cupped in another small ball of groundbait but it didn't really help, then Adie had two skimmers in the space of half an hour or so and I had to remind myself that the skimmers tend to average a pound apiece so there was no need to panic yet! During the second hour, I added another 21 fish to put me on nearly 3lb but my catch rate was going in the wrong direction.<br />
<br />
As we headed into hour three, I tried caster again and had a really good run of fish catching 21 in half an hour, mainly roach with the odd perch and a Dillington barbel, just when I thought they'd arrived, bites tailed off again and I only added another five or six fish in the next thirty minutes. Adie had another skimmer on the feeder but as he was swapping between the feeder and the pole, I don't think he was getting many indications on the tip. The wind had eased off a bit but the rain certainly hadn't and it continued to lash it down, there were maggots and pinkies everywhere and my groundbait was now slop!<br />
<br />
With a couple of hours to go, I decided to stick with caster and caught well in spells, I did have a nice roach come off shipping back and I bumped what felt like a better fish but my catch rate had been pretty consistent all day, averaging around 25 fish an hour. Typically as the light started to fade in the last hour, some better roach put in an appearance and I was having to use my landing net more often. When the all out was signalled, I don't think anybody was too upset as we were all soaked through. My final tally was 122 fish which I thought might give me a pound or so more than the 7lb I had last week.<br />
<br />
I'd just about finished packing up when Jake arrived with the scales to start the weigh in, Baz pulled his net out and had loads of small fish for 6lb 12oz, then it was my turn and I was pleased to see the needle pull round to 9lb 1oz. Jake had several skimmers and a nice perch for 7lb 8oz on the feeder from peg 5, Stu had fished the whip all day to weigh 2lb 12oz which included a chub that had been through the wars and Rob had some lovely roach and a skimmer for 3lb 15oz on the feeder from peg 8.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SbF2I2M7sdw/WjBIAA6HzJI/AAAAAAAAIL0/R-bzoicz1IUZjZd8M45UCe5CpHsAtXzMgCLcBGAs/s1600/25287020_10156036369927244_929228588_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SbF2I2M7sdw/WjBIAA6HzJI/AAAAAAAAIL0/R-bzoicz1IUZjZd8M45UCe5CpHsAtXzMgCLcBGAs/s320/25287020_10156036369927244_929228588_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baz had 6lb 12oz from peg 1</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5-UY-AT6bgk/WjBINbq8q-I/AAAAAAAAIL4/ZPLM-mkASRk8OqDwoB4wN4o6NKl_AuuAgCLcBGAs/s1600/25114884_10156036355377244_952069462_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5-UY-AT6bgk/WjBINbq8q-I/AAAAAAAAIL4/ZPLM-mkASRk8OqDwoB4wN4o6NKl_AuuAgCLcBGAs/s320/25114884_10156036355377244_952069462_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had 122 fish for 9lb 1oz from peg 2</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O2c-7R-CiH4/WjBIaqCiglI/AAAAAAAAIL8/JaYZmk-XiHsJWFrGMtgh157yT-nGT31_ACLcBGAs/s1600/25287000_10156036354217244_921066571_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O2c-7R-CiH4/WjBIaqCiglI/AAAAAAAAIL8/JaYZmk-XiHsJWFrGMtgh157yT-nGT31_ACLcBGAs/s320/25287000_10156036354217244_921066571_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jake had 7lb 8oz which included some skimmers and a nice perch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0hIRDsHE-s0/WjBIo0J3NfI/AAAAAAAAIMA/SLJ49krI7_4jYbjd5DLViEN4zSxdrD2XwCLcBGAs/s1600/25181810_10156036352782244_1883187847_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0hIRDsHE-s0/WjBIo0J3NfI/AAAAAAAAIMA/SLJ49krI7_4jYbjd5DLViEN4zSxdrD2XwCLcBGAs/s320/25181810_10156036352782244_1883187847_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stuart had 2lb 12oz which included another whip caught chub</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wMofqggGsDg/WjBI4o_XmCI/AAAAAAAAIME/RSS3VXqXPXcnUk9MwhKn4qMJNJlXArrWQCLcBGAs/s1600/25188532_10156036352572244_1604910646_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wMofqggGsDg/WjBI4o_XmCI/AAAAAAAAIME/RSS3VXqXPXcnUk9MwhKn4qMJNJlXArrWQCLcBGAs/s320/25188532_10156036352572244_1604910646_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rob had some quality roach on the feeder for 3lb 15oz</td></tr>
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Last to weigh in our section was Justin who said he thought he'd just done me and he was right as he had a nice net of roach for 10lb 10oz. We then headed back to the cars for the results and Frank had the top weight in the other section with a level 9lb of skimmers on the feeder, so I ended up second on the day and picked up £35 plus a nugget off Steve P who had struggled for 1lb 3oz on peg 13. Adie weighed 5lb 12oz to take the section money, Bill had 4lb 12oz from peg 24, Fieldy had 1lb 9oz from 17 and Karl didn't weigh on peg 18.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--LRAPg1LZQs/WjBJGLGPuLI/AAAAAAAAIMI/xwdEAtgnHXYBQ5Ed3MAD33dCOJsF6gqAgCLcBGAs/s1600/25323485_10156036352272244_647190535_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--LRAPg1LZQs/WjBJGLGPuLI/AAAAAAAAIMI/xwdEAtgnHXYBQ5Ed3MAD33dCOJsF6gqAgCLcBGAs/s320/25323485_10156036352272244_647190535_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rather moist looking Justin had the top weight on the day with 10lb 10oz</td></tr>
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As you can see from the photos, everybody was soaking wet and the weather had been atrocious but considering the conditions it had fished quite well and as ever it was a tight match with fish being caught on a variety of methods, a little gem of a venue that we need to make sure we look after.<br />
<br />
1 - Justin Charles(Ilminster) - 10lb 10oz<br />
2 - Jamie Rich (Against Men and Fish) - 9lb 1oz<br />
3 - Frank Woodard (Ilminster) - 9lb<br />
<br />
Sections<br />
A - Jake Woodard (Ilminster) - 7lb 8oz<br />
B - Adie Bishop (Taunton) - 5lb 12oz<br />
<br />
After five matches and dropping the worst result, here's how the IBC league is shaping up,<br />
<br />
Graham Field - 7 pts (dropping 30)<br />
Adie Bishop - 9 pts (dropping 4)<br />
Jake Woodard - 10 pts (dropping 4)<br />
Jamie Rich - 10 pts (dropping 30)<br />
Bill Hopping - 15 pts (dropping 20)<br />
Karl Aplin - 17 pts (dropping 20)<br />
Stuart Aplin - 18 pts (dropping 6)<br />
Frank Woodard - 24 pts (dropping 30)<br />
<br />
I can't go without saying well done to Hurf who fished Taunton's Xmas Fayre on the Tone on Sunday, the match was called off at 12:30 due to rising river levels making it unfishable but he winkled out some bleak and a roach from a swim with a little bit of slack to finish third with 310 grams! He took home a nice prize plus pools money and for good measure he also won two prizes on the raffle, so all in all a decent day.<br />
<br />
Last but not least, if you haven't already, please take a minute to vote for me in the UK Blog Awards,<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Next up</b></span> - Charity match<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Coming soon</b></span> - My next great interview<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Check Out</b></span> - My latest trip down memory lane (below)</div>
Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05206232197364552517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31509096.post-66800075332177451802017-12-06T00:58:00.001+00:002017-12-06T01:02:11.149+00:00Dillington Pond/Ilminster Canal - Xmas Fayre - 3rd December 2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The Xmas Fayre is always well attended with several anglers fishing who only ever fish one or two matches a year. The twenty anglers would be split over the two venues, Dillington Pond and Ilminster Canal and I really fancied having a crack at the latter as I love the canal and haven't fished it for ages. I got to the Bowling Club and it was great to see Andy Welch, Fred and Justin, even Ash had turned up (he must have heard it was on the pond!), there was also another new face in the shape of Baz's brother, Dasher, who was fishing his first match in 35 years!<br />
<br />
After breakfast and before the draw, Hurf announced that we would have a two minutes silence in memory of Bob which was a lovely touch. The draw got underway and as per usual I went in late and pulled out a ball which I hoped would be down the canal, it wasn't but as it was peg 18 at Dillington, I wasn't too upset as it's normally a decent winter peg. Baz managed to pull out peg 24 for the second match on the trot and his drawing arm is on fire at the moment. Hurf was on peg 5 down the canal and we agreed to still have our usual side bet as did Steve P who was also down there on peg 3.<br />
<br />
I had rather a lot of bait this week, along with the usual maggots, casters and Bait-Tech Super Seed hemp, I had chopped worm for the canal and Pro Nat Dark for the pond, I'd also asked Steve to pick me up some pinkies in case it was hard. After a couple of frosts in the week, it was surprisingly mild today and I expected both venues to fish well.<br />
<br />
After the short drive I parked up and as I took my kit to the peg, I could see the pond was gin clear and it was flat calm too, what was more worrying was the fact that after being there a little while, I hadn't seen a single fish top and I started to think I might need those pinkies after all. I mixed up some groundbait before setting up my rigs, a 0.5 gram Drennan Roach for fishing over groundbait at 10 metres, a 4 x 16 Preston Chianti for 11.5 metres if I had to go out further and a 0.4 gram Drennan Pencil to fish off the end of the reeds to my left. Just before the start, a couple of small fish topped out in the middle, which hopefully meant we'd get a few today.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lzW-pMHSW-E/WiXGHpb91CI/AAAAAAAAIE8/WV98Rp-gb4crx1mXsas6CP5D58wOAuecgCLcBGAs/s1600/24331560_10156015909727244_1152507160_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lzW-pMHSW-E/WiXGHpb91CI/AAAAAAAAIE8/WV98Rp-gb4crx1mXsas6CP5D58wOAuecgCLcBGAs/s320/24331560_10156015909727244_1152507160_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pond was like a mirror</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On the whistle, I cupped in a single ball of groundbait containing just a few pinkies and casters at 10 metres and then a big cup of chopped worm, casters, hemp and corn just off the reeds. I put on a single disco pinkie and shipped out to 10 metres and I thought it might take a while to get a bite but the float settled and sailed away, for once I didn't miss it and swung in a small roach. It was a bite a chuck from small roach and the odd perch, Adie on my left had started on the whip and was getting a few and I could see Ash on 17 shipping in and out. I tried caster and red maggot but it didn't really improve the stamp although normally the bigger roach show later on so I'd keep on trying caster throughout the day.<br />
<br />
After an hour, I had 32 fish, mainly small roach although I did slip the net under a couple of slightly better 2-3oz fish and I probably had 2lb which was bang on my 10lb target if I could keep that catch rate up. I fed a small ball of groundbait on my 10 metre line before picking up the heavier rig, slipping a grain of corn on trying my bonus fish line for the first time. I gave it ten minutes but with no indications I was soon back out over the groundbait. I had a quick fish on caster but then couldn't buy a bite, I switched back to single pinkie and started catching tiny little perch which was a worrying sign. Adie said he was struggling now as well, I could see Baz catching small fish and it looked like John D over on peg 10, Rob on 8 and Ash were getting a few but as far as I could tell nobody was bagging.<br />
<br />
The second hour was slower but I probably added another pound or so (including a Dillington barbel!) but already my 10lb target was slipping away. Another try for a bonus was fruitless so I cupped in another pot of choppie, caster and corn before going back out with caster and had a couple of better fish including a 4oz perch, I did have a better roach come off as I shipped back. At the start of the third hour I tried double caster by the reeds, after a few minutes, the float disappeared but I missed it, back out and another good bite resulted in a small roach flying out the water and that was enough of that for now.<br />
<br />
It was back to being a bite a chuck over the groundbait but the lack of quality was a bit worrying, going into the last hour, Adie said he'd seen Jake net a couple of skimmers but other than that I don't think anybody had caught any big fish. Adie had a slightly better perch and a chublet late on, I got to 103 fish (which at an ounce apiece would give me around 6lb) with five minutes to go, so had one last go by the reeds with corn on the hook but I never had a touch on it all day. <br />
<br />
As I packed up Ash asked how I'd got on, I told him how many fish I had and asked how he'd done, he said he'd had more fish than me but was only admitting to 5lb (here we go again!), as I had the scales I went up to weigh Baz in first, he'd done really well to weigh 7lb 7oz and I said I thought he wouldn't be far off with that. Dasher was next and had loads of fish for 2lb 9oz and said he'd loved every minute of it so hopefully we'll see him again. Adie had 6lb 8oz and I thought those two better fish late on had probably just pipped me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fp5yQ42zcQA/WicZOiWiKyI/AAAAAAAAIFM/PBA0KNR1f2YZblPNsWzn2m7XZv4qtm0zQCLcBGAs/s1600/24331378_10156015909912244_1849151470_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fp5yQ42zcQA/WicZOiWiKyI/AAAAAAAAIFM/PBA0KNR1f2YZblPNsWzn2m7XZv4qtm0zQCLcBGAs/s320/24331378_10156015909912244_1849151470_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baz had loads of fish for 7lb 7oz</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7JYqemqi0sM/WicZbecOMrI/AAAAAAAAIFQ/9W3Ji1m9GM0UUR8e1RqqIBIOejPaBI7cwCLcBGAs/s1600/24581096_10156015910187244_1263763003_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7JYqemqi0sM/WicZbecOMrI/AAAAAAAAIFQ/9W3Ji1m9GM0UUR8e1RqqIBIOejPaBI7cwCLcBGAs/s320/24581096_10156015910187244_1263763003_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dasher did really well to catch 2lb 9oz in his first match for 35 years!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YA1bD3TQy2I/WicZrGeDmsI/AAAAAAAAIFU/hOnymTal99Y4ClrHsqxvKSUZS4aGlm6SgCLcBGAs/s1600/24740706_10156015910382244_104506714_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YA1bD3TQy2I/WicZrGeDmsI/AAAAAAAAIFU/hOnymTal99Y4ClrHsqxvKSUZS4aGlm6SgCLcBGAs/s320/24740706_10156015910382244_104506714_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adie had 6lb 8oz from peg 19</td></tr>
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We got to my peg and when I pulled my net out, I knew it was going to be close and the needle settled on 7lb and I wished I hadn't wasted an hour throughout the match trying to catch bonus fish. Ash was next and said he'd had another look at his fish and didn't think he had 5lb, well they must have bred in the net because he plonked 9lb 10oz on the scales, now I know we all under estimate a bit (and I'm guiltier than most) but to be 100% out is just criminal! (I hope Santa doesn't come down your chimney!).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-34mZphyHr1I/WichUvUrqdI/AAAAAAAAIF0/nWBMRZ6crXcLc9cgXZYT1NnUxfiCDC2pwCLcBGAs/s1600/24331559_10156015910992244_1141259244_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-34mZphyHr1I/WichUvUrqdI/AAAAAAAAIF0/nWBMRZ6crXcLc9cgXZYT1NnUxfiCDC2pwCLcBGAs/s320/24331559_10156015910992244_1141259244_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had 103 fish for 7lb from peg 18</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gua0RW7bJUo/WiciTx91jsI/AAAAAAAAIF4/2vJnWqcWRCY9ba5cGgjkEMSALYbVj05fwCLcBGAs/s1600/24337631_10156015911862244_1688166430_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gua0RW7bJUo/WiciTx91jsI/AAAAAAAAIF4/2vJnWqcWRCY9ba5cGgjkEMSALYbVj05fwCLcBGAs/s320/24337631_10156015911862244_1688166430_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ash did well to catch 5lb (and another 4lb 10oz to go with it!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As the others arrived back, Jake had done brilliantly to weigh 15lb 8oz of skimmers and roach so he'd sneaked them in quietly and so had John D who had 8lb 3oz of small fish on peg 10. Rob had 5lb 14oz from peg 8 followed by Frank with 3lb 13oz from peg 4, Karl with 3lb 8oz from 13 and Tony with 2lb 1oz from peg 6. So that just left those down the canal although Adie had spoken to Bill earlier and apparently they were really struggling. Thanks to Rob Cox* and Jake Woodard** for the photos.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hvIE1u-E5Ns/Wickk9eTjiI/AAAAAAAAIF8/FiuenehelWIxjseKfELliWTKb87NsHxpACLcBGAs/s1600/20171203_155242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hvIE1u-E5Ns/Wickk9eTjiI/AAAAAAAAIF8/FiuenehelWIxjseKfELliWTKb87NsHxpACLcBGAs/s320/20171203_155242.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jake had the top weight with a lovely net of mainly skimmers weighing 15lb 8oz from peg 2*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QGU-sJbiop0/WiclQYmTXZI/AAAAAAAAIGA/sedITX4QVC8xWtYSYTrVLpL7ITfXWwBLQCLcBGAs/s1600/20171203_155456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QGU-sJbiop0/WiclQYmTXZI/AAAAAAAAIGA/sedITX4QVC8xWtYSYTrVLpL7ITfXWwBLQCLcBGAs/s320/20171203_155456.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frank had 3lb 13oz from peg 4*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vtab3ro-r3k/WicmND7G8II/AAAAAAAAIGE/Mi8vlXESE_EjMx3GbZozeE-sniJJTsx-ACLcBGAs/s1600/20171203_160357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vtab3ro-r3k/WicmND7G8II/AAAAAAAAIGE/Mi8vlXESE_EjMx3GbZozeE-sniJJTsx-ACLcBGAs/s320/20171203_160357.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karl had 3lb 8oz from peg 13*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R8b8vvuKg4k/Wicmm6s3yPI/AAAAAAAAIGI/hRJk1FGmuzwURu-Tqaf8SGZZQ9jfbyrXwCLcBGAs/s1600/20171203_155728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R8b8vvuKg4k/Wicmm6s3yPI/AAAAAAAAIGI/hRJk1FGmuzwURu-Tqaf8SGZZQ9jfbyrXwCLcBGAs/s320/20171203_155728.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tony had 2lb 1oz from peg 6*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9XwN59CwfQ/WicnA2q_0zI/AAAAAAAAIGM/SUDeLK1ks9wUiiuq8XpA7dErKieswy9AACLcBGAs/s1600/24726508_10156015918652244_882424242_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9XwN59CwfQ/WicnA2q_0zI/AAAAAAAAIGM/SUDeLK1ks9wUiiuq8XpA7dErKieswy9AACLcBGAs/s320/24726508_10156015918652244_882424242_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John D had 8lb 3oz for third on the pond from peg 10**</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EUuFwA75u78/WicnRWTCwBI/AAAAAAAAIGQ/FlGjFX_WMh07F6PiI7VTNZ3fxR5gDmI3wCLcBGAs/s1600/24337418_10156015918822244_157410205_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EUuFwA75u78/WicnRWTCwBI/AAAAAAAAIGQ/FlGjFX_WMh07F6PiI7VTNZ3fxR5gDmI3wCLcBGAs/s320/24337418_10156015918822244_157410205_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rob the Ewok had some nice roach for 5lb 14oz from peg 8**</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We headed back to the Bowling Club for the results and it had been really tough down the canal where Andy Welch was top with a respectable 3lb 5oz which included a nice skimmer, roach and perch but then the weights dropped right off with Justin needing only 1lb 1oz for second place and then it was just ounces. Thanks to Steve Hurford for the photos***<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3ACfIBJ7TlM/Wicq7LbPfJI/AAAAAAAAIGU/oieF2Z6jCB0d8XwFLZTaXwZbVsrDMLiEwCLcBGAs/s1600/24337236_10156015917617244_1797033540_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3ACfIBJ7TlM/Wicq7LbPfJI/AAAAAAAAIGU/oieF2Z6jCB0d8XwFLZTaXwZbVsrDMLiEwCLcBGAs/s320/24337236_10156015917617244_1797033540_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andy Welch was top down the canal with 3lb 5oz***</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_zWxhkUhvV0/WicrNbEy_II/AAAAAAAAIGY/vnRxc8LHBbY6gBB6E5VfYCDiDc_MHuWqgCLcBGAs/s1600/24550144_10156015915547244_946677615_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_zWxhkUhvV0/WicrNbEy_II/AAAAAAAAIGY/vnRxc8LHBbY6gBB6E5VfYCDiDc_MHuWqgCLcBGAs/s320/24550144_10156015915547244_946677615_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Justin only needed 1lb 1oz for second***</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Q4HRZGhRvA/WicrpPQ3LDI/AAAAAAAAIGc/NMYv8J0ZMLgtfOUU0zFG1ODL0DolxQ8BACLcBGAs/s1600/24337601_10156015914482244_1642863653_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Q4HRZGhRvA/WicrpPQ3LDI/AAAAAAAAIGc/NMYv8J0ZMLgtfOUU0zFG1ODL0DolxQ8BACLcBGAs/s320/24337601_10156015914482244_1642863653_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hurf had 11oz from peg 5***</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UqK0DRs0v9s/Wicr5LqJ1DI/AAAAAAAAIGg/gCpuBznPQxE-TL6vyj9NAWEicafGnIKFQCLcBGAs/s1600/24550604_10156015912862244_852109566_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UqK0DRs0v9s/Wicr5LqJ1DI/AAAAAAAAIGg/gCpuBznPQxE-TL6vyj9NAWEicafGnIKFQCLcBGAs/s320/24550604_10156015912862244_852109566_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rich S had 10oz***</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CRAqjWg6eis/WicsNEZfLrI/AAAAAAAAIGk/NT4D8SwPgHcS83VSWH7ONI8q6SpxZ53hgCLcBGAs/s1600/24580998_10156015916377244_1482937791_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CRAqjWg6eis/WicsNEZfLrI/AAAAAAAAIGk/NT4D8SwPgHcS83VSWH7ONI8q6SpxZ53hgCLcBGAs/s320/24580998_10156015916377244_1482937791_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bill had 6oz which included this specimen perch***</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OQ8EVKyNiYI/Wicshi-YSGI/AAAAAAAAIGo/mqo66aYsdFUGDQtNGD2NtxuAG4iaxOdYgCLcBGAs/s1600/24337176_10156015914207244_1035751517_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OQ8EVKyNiYI/Wicshi-YSGI/AAAAAAAAIGo/mqo66aYsdFUGDQtNGD2NtxuAG4iaxOdYgCLcBGAs/s320/24337176_10156015914207244_1035751517_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stuart had 6oz from peg 4***</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O_ZgKLqfVpw/WicsuKDu_6I/AAAAAAAAIGs/3bVpV29ncio43oEKkUFvnq423v1DjTYkgCLcBGAs/s1600/24550302_10156015916957244_959129_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O_ZgKLqfVpw/WicsuKDu_6I/AAAAAAAAIGs/3bVpV29ncio43oEKkUFvnq423v1DjTYkgCLcBGAs/s320/24550302_10156015916957244_959129_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favourite photo from the day which sums up what the Xmas Fayre is all about, Terry 'The Toast' had mainly small fish in his 1oz catch! but was still smiling***</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Also not pictured was Fred who had 4oz and Steve P who didn't weigh and had an early bath (you can let me have the pound next week mate, 5-2 now!). I have to admit I'm gutted the canal fished that hard because I love the place, I think maybe having nine down there was too many and five or six might have been better, I think we need to fish it when it's milder to get a truer picture.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p7BHVXHb-sI/Wicu2AA4DHI/AAAAAAAAIGw/AgYdn3iRw-EhMgxgfA0VQVMshhIaLxeYwCLcBGAs/s1600/24331317_10156015918352244_1472147492_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p7BHVXHb-sI/Wicu2AA4DHI/AAAAAAAAIGw/AgYdn3iRw-EhMgxgfA0VQVMshhIaLxeYwCLcBGAs/s320/24331317_10156015918352244_1472147492_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The canal***</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Everybody enjoyed a nice hot meal before it was time for the prize giving, the top two on each venue picked up some super pools and then starting with Jake, people were called up to choose from a fantastic array of prizes (Terry said he'd make himself comfortable as he had a long wait!). I was called out in fifth place and picked a bottle of port, cheese selection and some crackers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TU_BFzyQL7s/WicwbCi5SeI/AAAAAAAAIHA/_MjitZReZDUy5ZnrDWD0Uxk2RtyBaVUxgCLcBGAs/s1600/24550502_10156015912437244_1039134844_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TU_BFzyQL7s/WicwbCi5SeI/AAAAAAAAIHA/_MjitZReZDUy5ZnrDWD0Uxk2RtyBaVUxgCLcBGAs/s320/24550502_10156015912437244_1039134844_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everybody took home a nice prize</td></tr>
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Dillington<br />
1 - Jake Woodard (Ilminster) - 15lb 8oz<br />
2 - Ashley Tomkins (Tackleuk) - 9lb 10oz<br />
<br />
Canal<br />
1 - Andy Welch (Ilminster) - 3lb 5oz<br />
2 - Justin Charles (Ilminster) - 1lb 1oz<br />
<br />
I have to say everybody fished the match in the spirit it was intended and that's what club fishing is all about, Bill even wore his special Xmas hat with Dasher a close second as Papa Smurf!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uB16WAz4RkA/Wicz1qyxUiI/AAAAAAAAIJk/XEmgLi_rMaM2OftJJ6uEHbHU_Ot8-NZ1QCLcBGAs/s1600/24581051_10156015911942244_167347744_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uB16WAz4RkA/Wicz1qyxUiI/AAAAAAAAIJk/XEmgLi_rMaM2OftJJ6uEHbHU_Ot8-NZ1QCLcBGAs/s320/24581051_10156015911942244_167347744_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bill's Xmas hat is a work of art!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dQXpTtgU4W0/Wic0DK9qc5I/AAAAAAAAIJo/6_5ZCUomEYgVkF--eIDi1Dnk1h6a620twCLcBGAs/s1600/24337381_10156015912357244_320427137_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dQXpTtgU4W0/Wic0DK9qc5I/AAAAAAAAIJo/6_5ZCUomEYgVkF--eIDi1Dnk1h6a620twCLcBGAs/s320/24337381_10156015912357244_320427137_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was great to see Dasher Smurf fishing today</td></tr>
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The club and everybody who fished today would like to say a massive thank you to Hurf for getting all the prizes and organising the match along with Rob Cox and also to Ilminster Bowling Club for looking after us so well.<br />
<br />
And finally, it's that time of year again when I plead with you to vote for my blog in the UK Blog Awards, with so many other blogs out there about fashion, food and travel, lets get angling blogs on the map as well! (just click on the image, enter your details and choose 'Lifestyle' from the drop down menu - easy peasy!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a alt="Vote for me in the UK Blog Awards 2018" href="https://www.blogawardsuk.co.uk/ukba2018/entries/against-men-and-fish" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Vote for me in the UK Blog Awards 2018" height="320" src="https://www.blogawardsuk.co.uk/media/2018/votenow-1-trans.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Next up</b></span> - River Isle<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Coming soon</b></span> - My next great interview<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Check Out</b></span> - My latest trip down memory lane (below)</div>
Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05206232197364552517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31509096.post-48380607425488148642017-12-02T11:32:00.000+00:002017-12-16T18:03:15.117+00:00The Archives - Part 6 - The Wilderness Years (1986-88)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Firstly, I have to say a massive thanks for all the great feeback and comments I've received regarding this series looking back at the years before the blog existed, it seems people are enjoying my little trips down memory lane!<br />
<br />
I've called this instalment 'The Wilderness Years' for a variety of reasons, the main one being that, although I still loved my fishing, other distractions had started to appear for a 17 year old me and as a consequence the detailed fishing records I had previously kept so carefully, rather fell by the wayside. My diary entries were sporadic at best but there's still some good stuff that will hopefully be of interest!<br />
<br />
<strong><u>1986</u></strong><br />
<strong><u></u></strong><br />
I was still working in the fishing shop and also still on the committee as the junior match secretary. My angling apprenticeship continued as Barney and Adrian took me to places like the rivers Brue and Huntspill and I also fished the Parrett at Wick and had some nice double figure catches of roach and skimmers. Although I wasn't fishing the canal as often, there were still occasional night fishing sessions.<br />
<br />
After a very successful first year fishing the senior matches, this season was an altogether different proposition with no results of note until October when we fished the committee cup at Max's pond in Crockerton. I drew a peg on the favoured near bank and fished an insert peacock waggler with the bulk of the shot around the float with just a few 'dust' shot (it's funny you don't hear them called that anymore!) down the line. I had 7lb 9oz of small skimmers fishing on the drop and it's a method I also used a lot at Dillington in the early days. <br />
<br />
Basically you'd feed some maggots or casters and then cast out, once your bait has fallen through the water, instead of bringing it in (if you haven't had a bite) and casting out again, I would reel in a few turns (just enough so your hookbait rises and then falls again) and feed some more maggots. You could do this several times each cast and even if you missed a bite, you didn't need to reel in, just tighten up, feed some bait and have another go. This then gives you several bites (if you'll excuse the pun!) of the cherry, my rather low weight on the day was surprisingly enough to win and see my name etched on another of the clubs prestigious trophies.<br />
<br />
A few weeks later I added the Club Cup to my roll of honours when I drew the famous 'Aquarium' swim on the Isle, that will mean nothing to most people as that swim hasn't been used in a long, long time. I can't even remember what number it was, the swim is below the 'Green Hut' and one down from another excellent peg on its day, 'The High Bank'. It was a gorgeous swim with overhanging trees, although it was a shallow peg and only came into it's own with extra water and colour on the river, which was exactly what I was faced with on the day, the river looked perfect.<br />
<br />
I fished a little waggler and first run down I had a gudgeon and they were good sized 'gonks' on the river in those days. The rest of the match was plain sailing apart from a lost chub and I had a lovely days fishing to weigh 12lb 11oz. The club used to award trophies for the biggest catches of some species so there were the roach, chub and dace cups plus the gudgeon bowl! My catch consisted of 6lb 2oz of roach, 3lb 11oz of dace, 1lb 4oz of gudgeon plus a chub of 1lb 10oz which put me in the driving seat for the first three for a while but by the end of season, the only one I took home was the dace cup and I never ever managed to get my name on that gudgeon bowl! I picked up £18.50 pools money on the day and I also recorded I won £6 in side bets!<br />
<br />
One of the last matches of the year was Bridgwater's Xmas Fayre on the KSD and it was an interesting day, I had quite a long walk and if I remember correctly, I tried to fish a waggler and maggot over groundbait but I was blanking for most of the match, I noticed the two anglers below me were fishing wagglers tight across to the reeds and catching quite a few small fish. It was quite a long chuck and I put the biggest waggler I had on, but to be honest I was still woefully undergunned, after much swishing of the rod, I finally got the float tight to the reeds, the shot settled and then the float just carried on going, I struck and reeled in a tiny rudd, I'd avoided the blank!<br />
<br />
Feeding maggots was out of the question at that range but every time I got the float tight to the reeds, I'd get a bite and I quite enjoyed myself and at the weigh in, I plonked a massive 6oz on the scales! I think the two anglers below me had a few pounds apiece and both framed. The format of the prize giving was slightly different to what I was used to as not everybody got a prize and there were the same prizes in each section, i.e. a turkey for first, chocolate for second and I finished in the top half of my section and won a bottle of wine.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YG83jGNP_WU/WhX03rRtC7I/AAAAAAAAIBw/CMPcGvYrpHolhqBNRZhMrmuIhpIFGhoqQCLcBGAs/s1600/scan0028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="899" height="323" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YG83jGNP_WU/WhX03rRtC7I/AAAAAAAAIBw/CMPcGvYrpHolhqBNRZhMrmuIhpIFGhoqQCLcBGAs/s400/scan0028.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See if you recognise anyone here, there's a few I'm not sure about. From left to right, Sharron Gummer, James Parsons, Robin Pike, Kevin Way?, Alan Dunn, Terry Busby, Colin Ryall?, Bob Filler snr, Nigel Garrett, Roger Russell, Kerry Holland?, Vernon Case, Pete Womack, me, Adrian Green and Julian Butler</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At that years presentation night, which was at Ilminster Bowling and Tennis Club, I collected three trophies and had the honour of being presented with the Club Cup by IAA's chairman, Bob Filler snr, for the camera. Sharron Gummer had the headlines for being only the second girl ever to win a trophy in the clubs history.<br />
<br />
<strong><u>1987</u></strong><br />
<strong><u></u></strong><br />
As more distractions presented themselves my diary entries were becoming more and more sporadic, I was still pleasure fishing the Isle with Jon Newby on a regular basis and we also fished Stathe drain with Alan Dunn and Stuart 'Fred' Brown where we caught decent bags of roach, skimmers and eels. I did come third in a match on the Isle with 5lb 2oz of mainly roach, if I remember correctly, and I lost enough to have won the match (nothing new there then!).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wq_miXya_yw/WiBvZ2af4TI/AAAAAAAAID8/2eDobqy-qQQTd6eM6OEsChEglLc8qs8JACLcBGAs/s1600/scan0039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="968" height="264" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wq_miXya_yw/WiBvZ2af4TI/AAAAAAAAID8/2eDobqy-qQQTd6eM6OEsChEglLc8qs8JACLcBGAs/s320/scan0039.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jon Newby</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There were also trips to the river Usk in Wales and also a pond in Bridgwater called Wellworthys, which held loads of little carp and was a bit of a novelty in those days, I came third with 18lb 6oz and won £10.<br />
<br />
<strong><u>1988</u></strong><br />
<strong><u></u></strong><br />
As the year got underway my fishing diaries showed I was fishing pretty much every Sunday but not catching an awful lot! On February 5th I finally passed my driving test but my dreams of travelling to lots of new venues was rather dashed when I then promptly wrote my first car off the following week!<br />
<br />
The start of the season was still something to get excited about and this year Jon, Phil Bennett and me went to Wick on the river Parrett the night before and set up camp ready to fish at midnight, we had a Chinese takeaway and a few beers which was probably the best bit as the fishing wasn't anything spectacular. We managed some small fish and eels with the only fish of note, a decent skimmer for me and a small pike for Jon. The next morning we packed up and went to Ashford on the Isle, it was a scorching hot day and after catching nothing, we ended up cooling off by jumping in the river!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G6ivCyeeZM4/WiBvnZn0jhI/AAAAAAAAIEA/1gsj91F9ac4YYWxazKelX1ZohzNSY3nhgCLcBGAs/s1600/scan0038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="971" height="267" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G6ivCyeeZM4/WiBvnZn0jhI/AAAAAAAAIEA/1gsj91F9ac4YYWxazKelX1ZohzNSY3nhgCLcBGAs/s320/scan0038.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phil Bennett with a small eel at Wick</td></tr>
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There was a pond at Oxenford, near Ilminster, used to irrigate a fruit farm and Ilminster AA committee members were allowed to fish it, I only ever went there a couple of times, once to watch Adrian Green fish and then another time with Jon, we had a cracking day fishing the swims down the far end, we fished the waggler for roach and put a lead rod across by the brambles with sweetcorn on the hook, between us we had 50lb 9oz which was a big catch back then and made up of 10lb of roach, six carp for me and seven for Jon, we lost several as well.<br />
<br />
I was fishing matches every other Sunday and although wins weren't easy to come by, I was still managing to frame regularly including a third place on the KSD with just 2lb 14oz. A few weeks later we fished a match on the Isle with the river high, rising and chocolate coloured, to be honest it was unfishable and only four people caught out of the twenty four entrants with the top weight just 1lb 9oz. Actually five people caught, the fifth person being me when I caught a small eel, the trouble was that when it came to the weigh in, my little bootlace had found a small hole and escaped to freedom! I wouldn't have won the match but not checking my net beforehand was costly that day, another lesson learnt!<br />
<br />
There were some more memorable pleasure sessions, Jon and me caught 21lb 12oz of roach, dace and gudgeon between us one day on the Isle, both fishing the same swim and on another occasion we had 22lb 6oz from the Tank Traps. In the Xmas Fayre I drew the mill pool at Ashford (peg 82 now) and had a lovely day catching quality roach in eighteen inches of water to weigh 11lb 4oz and finish third, it should have been a lot more as like an idiot I kept trying to swing in 6-8oz roach and dropped several off during the day.<br />
<br />
For Xmas that year I got my first carbon pole, it was a nine metre Silstar I think and its first outing was at Stathe on 28th Dec with Alan Dunn and Phil Bennett, I had 2lb 2oz of small roach and skimmers, Dunner had 2lb 4oz and Phil had 1lb 4oz.<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="background-color: orange; color: red;">Next up</span></strong> - Part 7 takes a look back at 1989</div>
Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05206232197364552517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31509096.post-52716454451853944762017-11-28T22:02:00.001+00:002017-11-28T22:02:31.878+00:00River Isle - IBC Winter League 4 - 26th November 2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Before I get on to this weeks blog I would like to pay my respects to Bob Hammond who passed away recently, he fished with both Ilminster and Chard clubs and his very dry sense of humour will be missed by many, rest in peace mate.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VPA8yUyXjZg/WhnUwuJqEOI/AAAAAAAAICA/0uXI4IpG_jU6kw7heUyQs3HSSjvdn0_-wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VPA8yUyXjZg/WhnUwuJqEOI/AAAAAAAAICA/0uXI4IpG_jU6kw7heUyQs3HSSjvdn0_-wCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2169.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bob with a nice bream caught at Dillington</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oBnfeniTKbA/WhnU9Ad9E-I/AAAAAAAAICE/TTbK3mdHDbgahFUILyW5xXx9Go_wuje4ACLcBGAs/s1600/21552979_10155775580112244_1660407386_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oBnfeniTKbA/WhnU9Ad9E-I/AAAAAAAAICE/TTbK3mdHDbgahFUILyW5xXx9Go_wuje4ACLcBGAs/s320/21552979_10155775580112244_1660407386_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Steve P with Bob back in the Summer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After several hard frosts, I thought it could be hard going today and when I swap my faithful Bait-Tech baseball cap for my Drennan fleece hat, I know winter has arrived! With Hurf not fishing again this week, it was down to me and Steve P to arrange the match and I have to say it's a bloody nightmare, everybody has an opinion on what pegs should and shouldn't be in, I've said it loads of times on the blog, match organisers deserve a medal as it's a thankless task and there is no way I could do it every week.<br />
<br />
I must admit I do worry about the future of the clubs match fishing, we're getting healthier turnouts than we have for years and there's a great bunch of lads that want to fish every week but it's a huge commitment running the matches and people have busy lives these days, I certainly can't devote enough time to do it every week and I do fear it will just fizzle out which would be a massive shame for the club but that seems to be the way it's going. <br />
<br />
Anyway, onto this weeks match, after much debate, the pegs decided on were at Redbridge and Isle Brewers and with Hambridge not being used (where the winner came from last week), I knew peg 120 would take some beating, I also really fancied peg 110. As I was holding the bucket I could see what everybody had drawn, Baz pulled out the peg everyone wanted but the first thing he said was 'Bloody long walk!', I think most people would have happily swapped mate! Young Stuart drew 110, Rob was on 108, John D had 126, Frank was on 128 with Bill on 128a, Karl on 129 and Adie on 127. I had the last ball which was 124 and I must admit to feeling a little deflated as it hasn't been great, I had the choice of that one or 124a and decided on the latter as it can throw up a big weight, although normally with some colour on it.<br />
<br />
I got to the river and as I was unloading the car, Adie said 127 looked nice despite the river being low and clear, I dropped my kit off on peg 124a before checking out 124 as well, if anything it looked the better peg but I decided to stick with my original choice. Steve P was below me on 125 so I would be able to keep an eye on my pound and Jake was up on 123. I managed to get my box in although I was sat quite high off the water, while I was setting up several fish topped below me on the bend and above me in the shallow water which got me thinking I could be in for a good day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HpKk2orxRto/WhybcOu_gBI/AAAAAAAAICU/9TKXPbN8n9YXEpRu9WHPtviX87a_3O2kQCLcBGAs/s1600/24099617_10155993878867244_314458843_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="480" height="239" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HpKk2orxRto/WhybcOu_gBI/AAAAAAAAICU/9TKXPbN8n9YXEpRu9WHPtviX87a_3O2kQCLcBGAs/s320/24099617_10155993878867244_314458843_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peg 124a (you can just about see Steve P down on 125)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I set up two rigs, a 1 gram bodied float to fish the deeper water in the middle of the peg and a 0.6 gram DH16 for fishing across and down the peg in the shallower water, on the side tray I had maggots, casters and Bait-Tech Super Seed hemp. I was just about ready in time and started with single caster in the deeper water at about seven metres, I started getting bites but only from minnows so I tried near the top of the peg and a decent bite resulted in a little gudgeon but it certainly wasn't the start I'd hoped for. I had a little dace and small roach but minnows were already being a pain, a quick shout down to Steve and he said he was struggling too.<br />
<br />
I stuck on another section to fish slightly further down the peg, I held back, the float sunk from view and a nice roach flashed in the clear water, I shipped back gently only for it to come off! I was feeding casters and hemp at the top of the peg plus feeding casters across and flicking a few down the peg as well, hopefully to bring those fish up the swim. After the first hour, I only had a few ounces in the net but there are usually a few chub about in this swim and as I thought 5-6lb would be a decent weight today, it would only take a couple of fish and they could show up at any time.<br />
<br />
I put another section on to search further down the peg and a good bite resulted in another good roach nodding it's head, I safely netted this one and it was a decent fish of 4-6oz, next chuck I had another but any thoughts of bagging up disappeared when I went a further ten minutes without a bite. I laid the rig in further across, where it was shallower and the float didn't even settle and slid across the surface, I struck and I hooked what felt like a better fish but as I shipped back it came off and I've got a sneaking suspicion that as I laid the rig in, it went over a fish and I foul hooked it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cRKKxCd3TYg/Wh3QdVozy3I/AAAAAAAAICk/oTpS2cYfVfArOLdEFPqwf8nBpgTkxGUMQCLcBGAs/s1600/24171608_10155993870657244_91822118_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="640" height="239" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cRKKxCd3TYg/Wh3QdVozy3I/AAAAAAAAICk/oTpS2cYfVfArOLdEFPqwf8nBpgTkxGUMQCLcBGAs/s320/24171608_10155993870657244_91822118_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At last a better fish</td></tr>
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Jake wandered down and said all he could catch was minnows, even if he put a worm on, while he was with me I had a couple of minnows and a gudgeon but it looked like it was going to be a real struggle. As the match passed the halfway mark (we were only fishing five hours today), I probably only had a pound or so in the net and had to try something else. There were still fish topping down the peg so I picked up the shallower rig with the intention of having a go for them at 13 metres but first I tried over by the far bank and to my surprise, the float settled and then buried and the strike resulted in solid resistance as a fair bit of blue hydro showed itself. I shipped back so the fish was in the middle of the peg, I could see it was a decent chub and thankfully it didn't give me too much trouble and I slipped the net under a two pounder.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6SsCLNytWCA/Wh3RyU7smoI/AAAAAAAAICw/Dvascdc31ZwkMNla6DYfjBmQr7StqHlJQCLcBGAs/s1600/24020105_10155993864932244_1160742060_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="359" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6SsCLNytWCA/Wh3RyU7smoI/AAAAAAAAICw/Dvascdc31ZwkMNla6DYfjBmQr7StqHlJQCLcBGAs/s320/24020105_10155993864932244_1160742060_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A 2lb chub boosted my weight</td></tr>
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I went back over and a few minutes later another good bite resulted in a decent roach around 8oz and it felt like there were a lot of fish there, they were just wary of feeding in the gin clear water. Steve wandered up and said he was thinking of having an early bath, I told him to stick at it as it wouldn't take a lot to get in the money today. Over the next hour or so, I added a few more minnows and a couple of tiny dace but I thought I needed another chub or two to do well today.<br />
<br />
Going into the last hour, there were still small fish topping above and below me so I stuck the pole 10 metres upstream where it was only about a foot deep, the float went under and I had a little roach, three more followed before they wised up to that. With only about ten minutes left, I decided to go back across by the far bank in search of another chub, time was ticking by and then the float sailed away and the strike resulted in a decent fish ripping the elastic out. I stuck the pole under the water, hoping the fish wouldn't find the sanctuary of the far bank cover and shipped back. I lifted the pole and it was in the middle of the peg, it was a slightly smaller chub but much more feisty and I have to admit, I had butterflies as it went into the landing net. I didn't have time to go in again and shouted the all out.<br />
<br />
I packed up and as Jake had the scales, I walked up to weigh him in, he had a few dace plus loads of minnows for 1lb 7oz, I was next and I was pleased when the needle settled on 5lb 12oz, Steve had started to get a few fish late and when he pulled his net out it was close between him and Jake but he fell just short with 1lb 6oz.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-laWv9l6-Dc4/Wh3W-tNK0TI/AAAAAAAAIDA/FQpq7xAFN1YSlM2Vr9eEmouwRHYb2AMoQCEwYBhgL/s1600/24099780_10155993863052244_31061783_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="359" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-laWv9l6-Dc4/Wh3W-tNK0TI/AAAAAAAAIDA/FQpq7xAFN1YSlM2Vr9eEmouwRHYb2AMoQCEwYBhgL/s320/24099780_10155993863052244_31061783_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jake had 1lb 7oz from peg 123</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vO-LmdIUpGM/Wh3XRAnycqI/AAAAAAAAIDE/8T2DAxJogYkzIG1Lr9iYpLQSrRBbSVn8ACLcBGAs/s1600/24133776_10155993862457244_1371379686_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="359" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vO-LmdIUpGM/Wh3XRAnycqI/AAAAAAAAIDE/8T2DAxJogYkzIG1Lr9iYpLQSrRBbSVn8ACLcBGAs/s320/24133776_10155993862457244_1371379686_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had 5lb 12oz which included two chub and some quality roach</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dfuYxt73i3U/Wh3Xb6CNr5I/AAAAAAAAIDI/0JCHmVsrLugBEMgZhp4qucxB61FzTY4ywCLcBGAs/s1600/24135255_10155993859992244_1745459868_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="359" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dfuYxt73i3U/Wh3Xb6CNr5I/AAAAAAAAIDI/0JCHmVsrLugBEMgZhp4qucxB61FzTY4ywCLcBGAs/s320/24135255_10155993859992244_1745459868_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve P had 1lb 6oz from peg 125</td></tr>
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We took our kit back to the cars and as the others started arriving back, it had been really hard below the bridge as well, John D had the top weight there with 4lb 1oz from 126 followed by Frank with 1lb 10oz from 128, Adie with 1lb 7oz from 127, Karl with 1lb 5oz from 129 and Bill on 128a didn't weigh. So I was still leading but there were still the Redbridge pegs to come and I knew Baz would beat my weight in 120 and apparently Stuart had landed a good chub early.<br />
<br />
Back at the results and Baz had won it with 7lb 10oz, Stuart hadn't added to his early chub but it was a cracking fish of 4lb 4oz which was good enough for third place, Rob had lost a couple of chub early but didn't weigh. So I ended up in second place and picked up £35 plus a pound off Steve P (and the score is now 4-2 to me on the side bets). Thanks to Rob Cox for the photos*<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wr5VSn0oqrA/Wh3ZV5XwbsI/AAAAAAAAIDU/EE_GCYeMFj80vFd2DWxn8rl4kpI6eBcvQCLcBGAs/s1600/24099427_10155993859712244_2091404362_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wr5VSn0oqrA/Wh3ZV5XwbsI/AAAAAAAAIDU/EE_GCYeMFj80vFd2DWxn8rl4kpI6eBcvQCLcBGAs/s320/24099427_10155993859712244_2091404362_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baz won it with a nice net of dace and chublets weighing 7lb 10oz*</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EBoTA7OIrNA/Wh3ZmBRQ4wI/AAAAAAAAIDY/F_Z0ZScn_-4KGeKWLUgSb0C611Iz07rngCLcBGAs/s1600/24098862_10155993859812244_724777015_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EBoTA7OIrNA/Wh3ZmBRQ4wI/AAAAAAAAIDY/F_Z0ZScn_-4KGeKWLUgSb0C611Iz07rngCLcBGAs/s320/24098862_10155993859812244_724777015_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stuart had this lovely chub of 4lb 4oz, cracking fish*</td></tr>
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1 - Baz Morgan (Somerset Angling) - 7lb 10oz<br />
2 - Jamie Rich (Against Men and Fish) - 5lb 12oz<br />
3 - Stuart Aplin (Ilminster) - 4lb 4oz<br />
<br />
Sections<br />
A - Jake Woodard (Ilminster) - 1lb 7oz<br />
B - John Dursley (Enterprise Angling) - 4lb 1oz<br />
<br />
After four matches and dropping the worst result, here's how the IBC league is shaping up,<br />
<br />
Graham Field - 3 pts (dropping 30)<br />
John Dursley - 6 pts (dropping 30)<br />
Jake Woodard - 7 pts (dropping 4)<br />
Adie Bishop - 7 pts (dropping 4)<br />
Jamie Rich - 8 pts (dropping 30)<br />
Karl Aplin - 11 pts (dropping 6)<br />
<br />
I've also updated the list of framing pegs so far in the eight matches we've had on the river,<br />
<br />
120 - 6 times (won 2)<br />
110 - 4 times (won 2)<br />
128 - 4 times (won 1)<br />
126 - 3 times (won 1)<br />
128a - 2 times<br />
124a - 2 times<br />
123 - 1 time (won 1)<br />
H4 - 1 time (won 1)<br />
125 - 1 time<br />
125a - 1 time<br />
<br />
We've now had seven different winners so far with Frank Woodard the only angler to win more than one match.<br />
<br />
Next week it's the Xmas Fayre and with over twenty anglers booked in, I thought it would be the ideal opportunity to try a few different areas of the river but the decision has been made to fish the pond and the canal. I can understand it makes it easier to organise but with the temperature set to plummet over the next few days, I think it will be rock hard, I hope I'm wrong. I'd quite fancy giving the canal a go as I haven't fished it for ages so that's bound to mean I draw out the pond!<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Next up</b></span> - Xmas Fayre<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Coming soon</b></span> - My next great interview<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Check Out</b></span> - My latest trip down memory lane (below)<br />
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Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05206232197364552517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31509096.post-42000354828387364622017-11-24T20:29:00.000+00:002017-11-24T20:32:28.811+00:00The Archives - Part 5 - Exciting times (1985)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The start of the 1985 season saw a sixteen year old me fish my first match as a 'senior' (although I use the term very loosely!). These were exciting times, two of my angling mentors, Adrian Green and Barney Crockett had opened a fishing shop in Ilminster called A and R Tackle and I helped out at weekends which meant when my name appeared in the paper, the shops name appeared in brackets after it, I was now a sponsored angler, I'd made it, I'd hit the big time! Although in reality, I was just getting my bait cheap because I worked there! It's funny really, because even now, over thirty years later, people still want to have a coveted sponsors name in brackets, even if they're actually only getting bait at a reduced price!<br />
<br />
<strong><u>1985</u></strong><br />
<strong><u></u></strong><br />
That first match was on the King's Sedgemoor Drain and fished to the points and ounces format, Adrian, Barney and me had been down practising (another perk of working in the shop!) and formulated a plan, we would fish maggot and groundbait just off the marginal weed while feeding hemp and caster down the middle of the drain. We would stay on the inside line as long as we were getting bites before going out when sport slowed. It worked a treat, Adrian won the first match with 95 fish weighing 8lb 15oz to give him 238 points, Pete Womack was second with 59 fish for 9lb 5oz and I was third with 37 fish for 7lb. Andy Warner had all the headlines though, when he caught 123 fish for 15oz giving him a total of 138 points and fifth place.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xigdov5VkJU/WgYldI4fN2I/AAAAAAAAH-s/MPjUpNYdeM41i61wFKAz1e2QQq4fTTongCLcBGAs/s1600/scan0029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="931" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xigdov5VkJU/WgYldI4fN2I/AAAAAAAAH-s/MPjUpNYdeM41i61wFKAz1e2QQq4fTTongCLcBGAs/s400/scan0029.jpg" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first match was on the KSD</td></tr>
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Round two was a week later but conditions were very different, there was a strong wind blowing down the drain which brought with it massive rafts of duckweed that almost made the drain unfishable. The odd small fish was being caught when people could get a hook down through the weed, I was next to Ian 'Jock' McGown for the second week running and he had the genius idea of using his pole as a kind of floating boom to hold back a lot of the weed, to be honest, he was still having problems but for a little while I could actually fish the waggler half sensibly and hooked a good fish which turned out to be a nice tench of 3lb 9oz. I only managed another five fish to give me a total of 4lb which equalled 70 points and third place again (plus the heaviest fish pot) behind Roger Russell with 83 points (34 fish for 3lb 1oz) and Barney who won with 42 fish for 2lb 11oz and 85 points<br />
<br />
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Back then the club also used to fish against Langport with a match on both club's waters, the first fixture was on the River Parrett and we took the verdict with 87lb 15.5oz compared to Langport's 63lb 4oz, Jim Lock had the top weight with 17lb 12oz and I was fourth overall with 8lb 7oz despite suffering some pike trouble.</div>
<br />
In between matches, I was still managing some pleasure fishing and a trip to Perry St Pond resulted in catching my first tench there with a nice three fish haul and another trip to Crockerton saw me have a lovely days fishing catching 26lb 8oz of skimmers, tench, carp, roach, rudd and I even had a sizeable trout.<br />
<br />
I was enjoying a great run of form in my first season as a 'senior' and as the Isle matches started, this continued when I finished second in the Club Cup with 11lb 3oz from the swim above the 'Roach Hole' at North Bradon, I remember being at Barney's the previous day (we were picking casters) and he'd just go back from walking the river and said there were loads of fish topping in that swim (I can't remember what number it was) and I only went and drew it the following day (shame my drawing arm isn't as good these days!). Dave 'Chippy' Back won on the day with 15lb 9oz of chub and roach from the 'Ding' swim (if I remember correctly) and Den Loveday was third with 10lb 13oz.<br />
<br />
I went one better in the next points match when I won with 6lb 11oz of quality roach on a peg downstream of North Bradon, the river was up, coloured and still rising. I was on a non descript straight and just kept running a little peacock waggler down the peg where it would drag under as it reached the tail of the swim and I would hook a submerged 'stick up'. This happened for the umpteenth time and once again the rod curved round as I snagged up but then there was a satisfying thump, thump as a big roach objected to having its lunch interrupted. It was a cracking fish too, around the pound mark and I added five more and a few smaller samples on double bronze or red maggot throughout the day for my first win as a senior. Martin Hill was second with 5lb 10oz and my travelling partner, Vernon Case was third with 5lb 6oz.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HzgKNUR7jGI/WgYmXZerjpI/AAAAAAAAH-0/1S91a5dM7mIhf1WmltXWbEXBOrJTot5IwCEwYBhgL/s1600/scan0031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1011" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HzgKNUR7jGI/WgYmXZerjpI/AAAAAAAAH-0/1S91a5dM7mIhf1WmltXWbEXBOrJTot5IwCEwYBhgL/s400/scan0031.jpg" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first senior win</td></tr>
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I framed in a couple more matches and then we hosted Langport in the return inter-club fixture and I drew the last peg in the copse, the famous 'Stump' swim (now peg 29), although in those days we fished it on the opposite bank, the river was in perfect condition, coloured and fining down. I had another lovely day fishing the waggler, I fished it overdepth to slow the hookbait down and the float would drag under before popping back up (it was a relatively clean bottom) and on the occasions it didn't, the strike usually resulted in a nice roach. I ended up with a level 9lb for another really nice match win, Pete Womack was second with 7lb 15.5oz and Bob Filler jnr was third from the 'Big Bend' above me with 6lb 3oz. We also completed the double over Langport, 45lb 3.5oz to 10lb 8oz.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YX2o05ue09A/WgYnH51FgXI/AAAAAAAAH_A/nMP-FMDU0schjIL_qjgfd0gEz43KxD0AQCLcBGAs/s1600/scan0030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1002" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YX2o05ue09A/WgYnH51FgXI/AAAAAAAAH_A/nMP-FMDU0schjIL_qjgfd0gEz43KxD0AQCLcBGAs/s320/scan0030.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Headlines!</td></tr>
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So my senior match fishing career was off to a great start, what was noticeable going through my old diaries and photo albums was firstly the lack of photos! (no camera phones back then) and secondly how I think we very often look back at the 'old days' through rose tinted spectacles, anglers I fish with are always saying how the river doesn't fish as well as it used to but looking at the results back then, 10lb was a good weight and 15lb a real red letter day, 20lb was virtually unheard of (Colin Dyer did win the open with 20lb 8oz one year), whereas nowadays, high teens is common and there are normally several twenty pound plus winning weights in a season and the match record now stands at over 43lb!<br />
<br />
Like most clubs, Ilminster had some real characters including Pete Womack who was a brilliant angler, albeit a little eccentric and was always dressed in full camouflage gear and I have to mention John Hill, another great angler who helped me loads and even showed me how to fix a waggler on the line upside down so it would collapse on the strike in shallow water. <br />
<br />
I was also the junior match secretary and although attendances never reached the highs of a few years previous, the turn outs were still healthy with the likes of David Tolman, Jon Newby, Jason Miles, Toby Beasley and Stephen Hallett all doing well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o8HiXbQh_pE/Wgdre3uJQ2I/AAAAAAAAH_Q/YS1qIQxt62MYvNkgNEJcN7ms05vUxDbQwCLcBGAs/s1600/scan0036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="1501" height="325" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o8HiXbQh_pE/Wgdre3uJQ2I/AAAAAAAAH_Q/YS1qIQxt62MYvNkgNEJcN7ms05vUxDbQwCLcBGAs/s400/scan0036.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another well attended presentation night, from left to right, John Hill, Toby Beasley, Dennis Priddle, Roger Russell, Dave Back, me, somebody I can't make out, Pete Womack, Jason Miles, Jackie Cole, Jon Newby, Stephen Hallett, Jack Newman, Jim Lock, Barney Crockett, Bob Filler snr and Vernon Case</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I picked up three trophies at that years presentation evening at the George Hotel, the aggregate shield, the aggregate trophy and for the fourth year in a row, the pairs trophy, this time with Roger Russell as my partner.<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="background-color: orange; color: red;">Next up</span></strong> - Part 6 takes a look back at 1986</div>
Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05206232197364552517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31509096.post-38618167203996366622017-11-21T20:55:00.000+00:002017-11-22T09:11:18.139+00:00River Isle - V.E.S. Precision League 4 - 19th November 2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
With a couple of frosts during the week, winter continues it's inevitable march towards us although on waking this morning it was actually pretty mild. On a personal level, my back has been playing me up again and to top things off, I've got a stinking cold, which is nice! Hurf was back to take over the reigns and decided to put a few pegs in at Hambridge as most of it has been dredged now, so it would be interesting to see how that fished today. After another lovely bowling club breakfast it was time to draw, per usual I've gone in the bucket with only a couple of ping pong balls left and pulled out H5 at Hambridge, it can be a brilliant peg, although I struggled the last time I was on it. For company I had Adie below me by the bridge and Fieldy was on H6 above me.<br />
<br />
I got to the river and put my gear over the fence (with the help of Adie - cheers mate) before taking the car up to the car park. As I walked across the field and got to my peg, it looked lovely with loads of tiny fish (and the odd better one) topping, I said to Adie it was solid and really thought I was going to bag up. I set up a 1 gram bodied float to fish down the middle in the deepest part of the peg along with a 0.2 gram Drennan AS1 to fish three sections to hand. I flicked the lighter rig out to check it and a tiny roach took the bare hook so there were obviously a few fish there! On the side tray I had maggots, casters and Bait-Tech Super Seed hemp.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XmGgJrDAmEM/WhNLJMAmMXI/AAAAAAAAIAo/po21dZ8StYEWA4L43CPBd-cfmh1OHJIMgCLcBGAs/s1600/23758443_10155974033132244_1650205908_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="480" height="239" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XmGgJrDAmEM/WhNLJMAmMXI/AAAAAAAAIAo/po21dZ8StYEWA4L43CPBd-cfmh1OHJIMgCLcBGAs/s320/23758443_10155974033132244_1650205908_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The swim looked nice and I was looking forward to this</td></tr>
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I had time for a quick coffee so went down to have a quick chat with Adie, his swim looked nice although it was still pretty weedy, Graham joined us briefly before we all wandered back as the start time approached. I shouted the all in and flicked out the lighter rig with a single red maggot on and was sure it would go under straight away, but it didn't, in fact, after ten minutes, I still hadn't had a fish!, although to be fair I had missed a couple of indications. I shouted down to ask if Adie had caught and he said he was getting a few small fish, finally my float sunk from view and I swung in a small roach, two more followed before the next bite resulted in more solid resistance and a decent roach of 4-6oz came to the top, like an idiot, I went to swing it and it dropped off, never mind I thought, plenty more where that one came from.<br />
<br />
Another small roach next chuck and then the bites just stopped and this wasn't in the script! After a another fruitless five minutes, I had to try something else so picked up the heavier rig and held it back in the flow but never had a touch, despite trying several different areas. Back on the three sections to hand rig and the float dipped before sliding away and on the strike, a much better fish was hooked, from the way it was fighting I knew it was a perch and I slid the net under a beautifully coloured fish of a pound plus, this was more like it!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xJXlsZnuJBA/WhNLg81s4YI/AAAAAAAAIAs/qs-1OQeJ8FcofZRpZqBadzWw2YQ76k7TQCLcBGAs/s1600/23758148_10155974027687244_770804939_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="480" height="239" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xJXlsZnuJBA/WhNLg81s4YI/AAAAAAAAIAs/qs-1OQeJ8FcofZRpZqBadzWw2YQ76k7TQCLcBGAs/s320/23758148_10155974027687244_770804939_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lovely looking pound plus perch</td></tr>
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A couple more tiny roach followed as the first hour came to a close but then I couldn't buy a bite again, I was just thinking what my next move should be when the float disappeared and another decent fish was on, it felt like another good perch but I'll never know as the hook pulled out and when I swung the rig in, there was a weed on the hook - gutted. No more bites so I had another quick go with the heavier rig but it was a waste of time, back on the lighter rig and another positive bite saw a decent perch shaking it's head, I was praying it would stay on and breathed a sigh of relief as I slid the net under another pound fish. So after ninety minutes I probably had 2.5lb and although I wasn't bagging, I know the swim holds more perch and it does throw up chub on occasion, so a good weight was still possible.<br />
<br />
I shouted up for a quick update from Adie who replied he was catching small fish and had also landed a decent perch, I heard some shouting from above me and it sounded like Fieldy was having a few problems with the cows which had so far left me alone. Once again my bites dried up and I tried the heavier rig again but still couldn't get a bite on it, I started feeding quite heavily down the peg and tried holding the rig back at the bottom of the bend (where I'd caught a few fish the last time I was here) but not a sniff and I was out of ideas. <br />
<br />
Over the next couple of hours I swapped between the two rigs and tried different areas but the only fish I added to the net was a tiny minnow. Going into the last sixty minutes, I went back to the bottom of the swim with the heavier rig and as I picked up the catty to feed, the float went under and although it took me by surprise I managed to hit the bite which was from a small roach. I had four in as many chucks and was just thinking I could end the match with a flourish when the bites stopped as quickly as they'd started.<br />
<br />
After another biteless five minutes, I was going to try the lighter rig and as I shipped the pole back, I looked behind me and as I did so I heard a splash, looking back my pole elastic was all over the place and I guessed a pike had grabbed the rig, I shipped back gently in case it was a chub that had been hanging on to the bait but after five minutes, I could see it was a jack pike and eventually landed a fish around 5lb hooked squarely in the scissors.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VOFipkgRnvo/WhNltfQ_u5I/AAAAAAAAIA8/Fi4ue31JVR4IDxPQ63Gl2itH5L6DZo87QCLcBGAs/s1600/23772409_10155974026977244_1822649747_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VOFipkgRnvo/WhNltfQ_u5I/AAAAAAAAIA8/Fi4ue31JVR4IDxPQ63Gl2itH5L6DZo87QCLcBGAs/s320/23772409_10155974026977244_1822649747_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Possibly the reason the roach wouldn't settle!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After all that commotion, I was sure that would be the last of the action for me but next put in, the float barely settled before going under and another roach was on. I don't know whether it was the time of day or the fact I'd upset that pike but I couldn't get the rig in fast enough. I did bump what felt like a better fish and as it neared the end of the match, the roach were getting bigger and I netted a couple of 3-4oz fish. In the last half an hour, I think I had 15 roach for probably a pound or so, why couldn't they have switched on earlier?<br />
<br />
I shouted the all out and after I packed up, I walked up to weigh Adie in, he had loads of fish for 14lb 2oz and I said he'd be there or thereabouts with that today. As we walked to my peg, we realised we couldn't see Graham and I think he'd had a nightmare with the cows and gone for an early bath. My 25 fish weighed 3lb 13oz so no pick up today but hopefully I'd still get half decent section points for the league.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dKD1d2TsnnU/WhNvvJDmaQI/AAAAAAAAIBM/ERoASFPELNcHb4n08z0F8VWfN_aP-WxwgCLcBGAs/s1600/23772451_10155974025707244_476834620_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dKD1d2TsnnU/WhNvvJDmaQI/AAAAAAAAIBM/ERoASFPELNcHb4n08z0F8VWfN_aP-WxwgCLcBGAs/s320/23772451_10155974025707244_476834620_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adie had loads of fish for 14lb 2oz</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j23m-RHVUlQ/WhNv34eqcJI/AAAAAAAAIBQ/AbDtEnOA57QX3GT_nZoZJF-Uz7g1z_UugCLcBGAs/s1600/23772420_10155974023677244_1331579789_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j23m-RHVUlQ/WhNv34eqcJI/AAAAAAAAIBQ/AbDtEnOA57QX3GT_nZoZJF-Uz7g1z_UugCLcBGAs/s320/23772420_10155974023677244_1331579789_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had 3lb 13oz which included two nice perch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Back at the results and Adie had won it with Karl in second place from 120 with a nice net of chublets and dace weighing 9lb 2oz and Paul Homewood was third with loads of small fish for 6lb from 125a. Bill Hopping won the top section with 3lb 15oz from 124 and Terry 'The Toast' Morgan won our section with 5lb 1.5oz from 127. So I ended with three points which is my worst score so far, so not a total disaster. Quite a few big fish lost today, I lost enough to win the section or even possibly frame but then Steve P lost a big chub which has cost him as he weighed 2lb 12oz (so I've now gone 3-2 ahead in the side bets) and Hurf lost a beast in 108 as well. Thanks to Steve Hurford for the photo*<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5ETK7XitNxo/WhN1ev3A9sI/AAAAAAAAIBg/THbKfXYwqNYIS482_OO56DCAKwXzluY-gCLcBGAs/s1600/23758046_10155974023557244_753722007_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5ETK7XitNxo/WhN1ev3A9sI/AAAAAAAAIBg/THbKfXYwqNYIS482_OO56DCAKwXzluY-gCLcBGAs/s320/23758046_10155974023557244_753722007_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karl was second with a nice net of fish weighing 9lb 2oz from peg 120*</td></tr>
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1 - Adie Bishop (Taunton) - 14lb 2oz<br />
2 - Karl Aplin (Ilminster) - 9lb 2oz<br />
3 - Paul Homewood (Taunton) - 6lb<br />
<br />
Sections<br />
A - Bill Hopping (Ilminster) - 3lb 15oz<br />
B - Terry Morgan (Ilminster) - 5lb 1.5oz<br />
<br />
After four matches and dropping the worst result, this is how the league looks so far,<br />
<br />
Adie Bishop - 4 pts (dropping 4)<br />
Bill Hopping - 5 pts (dropping 8)<br />
Jamie Rich - 6 pts (dropping 3)<br />
Steve Parker - 6 pts (dropping 4)<br />
Karl Aplin - 8 pts (dropping 20)<br />
Stu Aplin - 10 pts (dropping 6)<br />
<br />
I've also updated the list of framing pegs so far in the seven matches we've had on the river,<br />
<br />
120 - 5 times (won 1)<br />
128 - 4 times (won 1)<br />
110 - 3 times (won 2)<br />
126 - 3 times (won 1)<br />
128a - 2 times<br />
123 - 1 time (won 1)<br />
H4 - 1 time (won 1)<br />
124a - 1 time<br />
125 - 1 time<br />
125a - 1 time<br />
<br />
We've had six different winners so far with Frank Woodard the only angler to win more than one match.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Next up</b></span> - River Isle<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Coming soon</b></span> - My next great interview<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Check Out</b></span> - My latest trip down memory lane (below)</div>
Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05206232197364552517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31509096.post-68905461539877029842017-11-15T13:00:00.000+00:002017-11-15T13:00:22.632+00:00The Archives - Part 4 - More pastures new and growing up (1984)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My last trip down memory lane documented me winning a couple more matches and I started visiting some new venues and catching some nice fish, the start of the 1984 season saw me still as keen as ever and down the canal the night before 'The Glorious 16th' with base camp established ready for my first ever night fishing session.<br />
<br />
<strong><u>1984</u></strong><br />
<br />
My diary showed that I caught a mixed bag of fish, small tench and carp (which I think had been recently stocked ) plus perch, roach and rudd. My first match was as senior fixture the next day at Ash Ponds and I caught 2lb 9oz of rudd, roach and small skimmers, I used a Drennan 2AA Crystal Waggler (it's hard to believe they've been around that long!) and for bait I had mixed maggots, bronze pinkies and a bag of plain old brown breadcrumb (none of this fancy, expensive, continental stuff!).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9nEf8Iq93Ec/WfzbvsfOS6I/AAAAAAAAH8U/had-wGRmdVQeO4ZgaGwVYZ7C1LMbyXQwQCLcBGAs/s1600/scan0019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="704" data-original-width="885" height="254" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9nEf8Iq93Ec/WfzbvsfOS6I/AAAAAAAAH8U/had-wGRmdVQeO4ZgaGwVYZ7C1LMbyXQwQCLcBGAs/s320/scan0019.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fishing a match at Ash Ponds (note the Angling Times Rodbenders badges on the back of my body warmer)</td></tr>
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The first junior match of the year down the canal saw my Points and Ounces campaign get off to a great start when I won it with 76.5 points. I caught another golden orfe, this one was 2lb 7oz and added a good eel, five gudgeon, five rudd, a roach and a small carp to give me a total weight of 3lb 12.5oz. My good friends Stephen Hallett and David Tolman were second and third with 23 and 10.5 points respectively. Stephen also lost four carp and in all the junior matches I fished there were loads hooked but only one or two were ever successfully landed.<br />
<br />
Looking through my diary from that year, on 14th July I recorded I fished down the canal with my roach pole, the first mention I could find, so possibly it's first outing. It was a 6 metre Crystal fibreglass model, if I remember correctly it was French although I'm not overly sure whether Crystal was the make or model! It was a put in pole and had graphite on the joints, back then the main method of using elastic was with a crook. A few juniors bought poles around the same time and we had fun and games cutting the tip section back to accommodate the crook, I think mine got cut back a tiny bit too much and we had to use wide bore float rubber so the crook would fit snuggly. The crooks came already fitted with internal elastic which was quite a light grade.<br />
<br />
I caught a few fish including a 1lb tench, roach, rudd, gudgeon and a small carp for a total weight of 2lb 2oz and I also lost a carp. For bait I had bronze maggots and I used to buy ready tied hooks to nylon (from Rules of course) and was using a size 20 gold hook (which were very popular at the time) to 1.7lb.<br />
<br />
The second match of the Points and Ounces series saw me finish in second place with 12 fish for 14 ounces which gave me 26 points, James Parsons won with 41.5 points which included a nice crucian carp of 1lb 4oz and Jason Miles was third with 10 points. With two matches to go, I was leading the series with 102.5 points with James my nearest rival with 51.5 points.<br />
<br />
We were still visiting lots of new venues and our parents took a few of us to the Taunton and Bridgwater canal and I had a lovely day catching 30 eels, rudd, roach, a couple of nice skimmers and a tench of 2lb 12oz on a variety of baits (the tench was on bread), for a total weight of 11lb 6oz and any double figure net of fish was noteworthy back then.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2XYIjvGubtI/Wf2W8zGeqgI/AAAAAAAAH8o/hqXeeJFpEL4SzT5jypJ-Ur3UYy_qgYerwCLcBGAs/s1600/scan0020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="721" data-original-width="875" height="263" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2XYIjvGubtI/Wf2W8zGeqgI/AAAAAAAAH8o/hqXeeJFpEL4SzT5jypJ-Ur3UYy_qgYerwCLcBGAs/s320/scan0020.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice tench from the Taunton and Bridgwater canal</td></tr>
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There were also regular trips to Chard reservoir (Holemoor Fisheries in those days) and Perry St Pond along with some more night fishing sessions down the canal. I also won the Summer Cup held on the canal with 2lb 2oz which included a couple of little tench, a gudgeon, an eel plus rudd and roach. I was so keen I would often go home for dinner after the match in the morning and then go back down the canal in the evening, normally floating crust for carp and had one of 6lb 4oz to make it a very successful day.<br />
<br />
These were very exciting times for us youngsters and with each different venue came a new adventure, a first visit to the Tiverton canal to catch tench was a bit of a flop with just a few small roach and rudd to show for our efforts, another team match on the Huntspill was equally unsuccessful when I caught just a roach and an eel for a massive 1.5oz. <br />
<br />
A family holiday to Christchurch was an altogether different matter however when I got to fish the famous Royalty Fishery. The first days fishing wasn't anything special but I had plenty of bites catching some eels on a maggot feeder and dace and minnows on a little 2BB balsa float. The second day was a real red letter affair, I ledgered luncheon meat and caught a small chub of 12oz or so before moving swims, I saw a couple of barbel roll and as the light started to fade, the rod hooped over and I hooked a big fish, a proper scrap followed before I eventually netted a barbel that to me, looked huge. Some anglers fishing above me came down and weighed it using some Avon scales, 6lb 11oz and still my biggest barbel despite the best efforts of Justin Charles who keeps taking me to the River Wye and I keep blanking!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K_uL5tIYkSI/Wf3z5X4X0uI/AAAAAAAAH84/5dZszUQSFscbXaGNIka1bZ49xaFCgrNOQCLcBGAs/s1600/scan0021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="869" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K_uL5tIYkSI/Wf3z5X4X0uI/AAAAAAAAH84/5dZszUQSFscbXaGNIka1bZ49xaFCgrNOQCLcBGAs/s320/scan0021.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">6lb 11oz of Royalty barbel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My grandad and I fished a couple more times during that holiday and we both blanked but I didn't care, I'd caught my first barbel!<br />
<br />
Another little stream we used to fish was by the Clark's factory at Dowlish, we never caught any monsters but always caught a few little brown trout along with the odd eel and bullhead - great fun! I was now on Ilminster Angling Club's committee as a junior representative and as such was entitled to fish the committee cup. This year it was held at a lake in Crockerton and what a match it was, I had a lovely days fishing catching skimmers to a pound along with quality roach and rudd on the waggler to weigh 18lb 13oz which was my biggest match weight to date and enough for third place (and £4.50!) behind Don Jobson who had 26lb which included a 4lb 3oz tench and Adrian Green who won with a stunning 35lb 12oz which included some big 2lb plus eels, bream, roach and rudd.<br />
<br />
Another match I was looking forward to was the juniors versus seniors, which this year we fished on Westport canal, a nice little venue that held loads of small fish, sadly I couldn't emulate the success of the previous years event and my 7oz (one eel plus gudgeon and roach) was only good enough for second in the juniors and sixth overall. My records also didn't show whether the juniors or seniors were victorious on the day, one interesting thing was that I used Cosmic Cloud groundbait on the day, anybody remember that and who made it?<br />
<br />
I'd also been asked to fish for one of the Ilminster senior teams in the Mini League where all the participating clubs hosted one or more of the rounds, to be honest I struggled on some of venues, blanking twice at Sherborne Lake and only managing a gudgeon and a roach on the River Yeo for a magnificent 1oz!<br />
<br />
I did better in the remaining junior matches though, winning the final round of the Points and Ounces series with 15 fish for 12.5oz which also saw my name etched on the shield and for good measure added the Club Cup with 1lb 8oz of roach and dace on the Isle and along with my partner, David Tolman, won the pairs for the third year on the trot. <br />
<br />
I was also now fishing a few senior matches on the Isle with Vernon Case picking me up on Sunday mornings in his Ford Escort diesel which sounded like a tractor! I enjoyed moderate success with the highlight probably being a third place in the senior Club Cup with 9lb 7oz which included a chub of 2lb 15oz and won me and extra £2.50 for the heaviest fish of the day on top of £6 for third place! It was an opportunuity missed really because, Jim Lock won with 10lb 6oz and I lost a chub and bumped off loads of roach and dace. In my last match of the year, which was also a senior fixture, I struggled to catch six roach for 2lb 3oz and I only mention it here because one was nice fish of 1lb 3.5oz, a cracking roach to end my look back at 1984.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RsjfhWH4_OE/Wf4hVKSlQYI/AAAAAAAAH9M/oR7EpoQyMZw3PgNdr9kAtE8QqR4PHBk7QCLcBGAs/s1600/scan0026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1218" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RsjfhWH4_OE/Wf4hVKSlQYI/AAAAAAAAH9M/oR7EpoQyMZw3PgNdr9kAtE8QqR4PHBk7QCLcBGAs/s400/scan0026.jpg" width="303" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Headlines at that years presentation evening. Some very young faces there! From left to right, Dennis Priddle, Adrian Green, Robin Pike, Ollie Brister, someone I don't recognise, Bob Filler snr, Jason Miles, Dave Back, Jim Lock, me, Phil Rainford, Don Jobson and Steve Bishop</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At that years presentation night I had quite a haul, points shield, points and ounces shield, club cup, heaviest match weight, aggregate trophy, summer cup, heaviest fish, pairs (with David Tolman), trophies for winning two rounds of the points and ounces series and for good measure I won the senior heaviest fish trophy with that 2lb 15oz chub!<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="background-color: orange; color: red;">Next up</span></strong> - So as I wave goodbye to the juniors part 5 takes a look back at 1985</div>
Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05206232197364552517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31509096.post-69642244159906714542017-11-14T00:38:00.000+00:002017-11-14T00:38:04.069+00:00River Isle - IBC Winter League 3 - 12th November 2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
With more rain and the temperature definitely dropping a few notches during the week, winter is certainly on its way. With Rob still away and Hurf unable to fish, it was down to me and Steve P to organise this one and I have to say a big thanks to Frank and Jake who went down and checked out Hambridge yesterday (still too weedy) and also did some work at Isle Brewers, cutting out swims so people can get their boxes in.<br />
<br />
We had quite a bit of rain on Saturday night although there wasn't much forecast for Sunday. On my way to Ilminster in the morning, I had a quick look at the river at Donyatt and it looked quite nice, I then stopped at Horlicks where it was chocolate and pushing through and I thought the pond would be the best bet but on arriving at the bowling club, the general consensus was that the river would be okay and should drop during the day. I put in five pegs at Redbridge with the rest at Isle Brewers and really fancied pegs 125, 126, 128 or 129.<br />
<br />
Adie went in the bucket early and unbelievably managed to pull out peg 128 for the third match running, a great peg although I think he'd quite fancy a change of scenery! Steve P drew 125 and his drawing hand is on fire at the moment, Langport invader Baz Morgan pulled out 128a and wasn't impressed at all. By the time I got to stick my hand in the bucket, there was only one ball left, I said to Frank that I hoped it wasn't peg 111 and he said he already had that. I took the last ball and was chuffed to see I was on 126 (Barney's Bend), a great peg and one that normally does well with extra water on.<br />
<br />
Driving to the river, there was loads of standing water about and I was starting the fear the worst, as I pulled up, Baz said the river looked horrible and when I took my kit to the peg, it was chomping through but I did have some slacker water on the far side. Of greater concern was the howling wind and I felt sorry for the guys at Redbridge as they would be pretty exposed up there. I'd made up some new rigs yesterday and put one on but it was a bit of a nightmare trying to plumb up with the flow and the wind and I was still faffing about when I noticed the start time had come and gone.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u5Rmm6R3ofs/WgjixFo3qQI/AAAAAAAAH_g/tgCHPskKJUU9C5L6McTpAbghBI0YKL-gwCLcBGAs/s1600/23548133_10155953363247244_726117863_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="480" height="239" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u5Rmm6R3ofs/WgjixFo3qQI/AAAAAAAAH_g/tgCHPskKJUU9C5L6McTpAbghBI0YKL-gwCLcBGAs/s320/23548133_10155953363247244_726117863_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peg 126 (up and coloured!)</td></tr>
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I started with two red maggots on the hook and trying to run the float through in the flow but there was just too much pace on it so I stuck another section on and went further over into the steadier water. A couple of small fish had topped and I thought I'd get indications straight away, even if it was from minnows. The problem was the wind and I just couldn't present the rig any sense and it wasn't helping with my feeding either. After half an hour I hadn't had a bite and was surprised when Steve P appeared behind me, he said his peg was racing through and he hadn't had bite either.<br />
<br />
I was just starting to think it might be a case of going through the motions until the last hour or so, by which time, hopefully, the level would have dropped a bit, when my float sailed away and the strike resulted in some blue hydro showing itself, I shipped back gently and swung in a 2oz dace, Steve had seen enough and left me to it. Next chuck, I had another dace and started to think I was going to bag up but then, typically, I couldn't get a bite. I tried double bronze maggot and started getting some small roach and then had a slightly better one of 4oz or so.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f5pxpHnHjts/WgoLlsTblOI/AAAAAAAAH_w/cN5NKa3vZ68htSDyPbIm3t5f5b3pC0p8wCLcBGAs/s1600/23549713_10155953362872244_648968083_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="359" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f5pxpHnHjts/WgoLlsTblOI/AAAAAAAAH_w/cN5NKa3vZ68htSDyPbIm3t5f5b3pC0p8wCLcBGAs/s320/23549713_10155953362872244_648968083_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bronze maggot was definitely better</td></tr>
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The wind was absolutely horrendous and I dread to think how bad it was for the lads at Redbridge, I just netted another roach of 3oz or so when Frank arrived behind me, he'd walked down from peg 111 and said his swim was basically unfishable at the moment, he reported that everybody in his section was struggling and above the bridge, Steve P was fishless and Bill just had two minnows. He walked down to see how Adie, Baz and Terry 'The Toast' were getting on. On his return he said I was winning the match easily as Baz and Terry hadn't caught and Adie had a fish so small he couldn't tell if it was a dace or a minnow! I didn't want to start counting my chickens yet as I certainly wasn't bagging and as things stood it would only take a chub or a few good roach to blow me out of the water.<br />
<br />
I kept trying caster and had the odd fish on it but they weren't any bigger than the fish I was catching on maggot and I was having to wait ages for bites. I was catching mainly dace and roach along with a couple of gudgeon, I'd only had one minnow which is normally a good sign and I was still hopeful that some bigger roach might put in an appearance. I'd been keeping an eye on the water level and it was dropping quite quickly. With a couple of hours to go Terry popped to his car to get something and came over and said he still hadn't caught.<br />
<br />
I kept putting the odd small fish in the net and with about half an hour to go I probably only had 2lb or so. I heard somebody come through the gate and when I looked around Scott Jackson and Mike Board were walking across the field, I looked back at my float just in time to see it slide under and this time the strike resulted in more solid resistance, I carefully shipped back and slid the net under a lovely roach of 8-10oz, the best fish of the day. While they were with me I caught quite well and I don't know whether it was the time or day, the fact the river had dropped or a combination of both but I added another 5 or 6 fish to finish with 47 and I hoped I might have 3lb or so. <br />
<br />
I packed up and as I had the scales I walked down to weigh Terry in first but met him coming the other way, he'd packed up and chucked a 4oz roach back. I hoped that wasn't going to cost him as I've done something similar in the past and missed out on a default section win so now as long as I've caught, I always weigh in. Baz had managed to winkle out a couple of decent roach for 9oz and then Adie had done well catching loads of small fish shallow for 2lb 4oz.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K2tXANuVTYM/WgogeyaS-aI/AAAAAAAAIAA/dUPrhxsSFUMKVZltUzAhkXv3G9hi5GbCwCLcBGAs/s1600/23602071_10155953362137244_563874673_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="359" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K2tXANuVTYM/WgogeyaS-aI/AAAAAAAAIAA/dUPrhxsSFUMKVZltUzAhkXv3G9hi5GbCwCLcBGAs/s320/23602071_10155953362137244_563874673_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A camera shy Baz had two roach for 9oz</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lw0-72bCCMc/Wgoil6Ds9gI/AAAAAAAAIAM/YXhhotxWnNMyETN6ZvPub7O2r5_CJ-18wCLcBGAs/s1600/23584418_10155953361617244_1675742092_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="359" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lw0-72bCCMc/Wgoil6Ds9gI/AAAAAAAAIAM/YXhhotxWnNMyETN6ZvPub7O2r5_CJ-18wCLcBGAs/s320/23584418_10155953361617244_1675742092_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adie had a lot of small fish for 2lb 4oz from peg 128</td></tr>
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We got to my peg and my fish went 3lb 10oz and when the others came down from above the bridge, Jake had 3oz from 123, Bill had 2oz from 124 and Steve P hadn't caught, it had been that hard! Back at the results and they'd struggled at Redbridge as well where Fieldy had done the best with a few dace for a 1lb from 120. So I'd won my first match for a while and picked up £56 plus a nugget from Steve P to make the side bet score 2-2.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hPbP7EyIQIs/WgonE0xAJSI/AAAAAAAAIAY/QqNwUe3NGX4Qx1aMZDKtb_QGCyLf9PkUgCLcBGAs/s1600/23548158_10155953361312244_1146123839_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="359" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hPbP7EyIQIs/WgonE0xAJSI/AAAAAAAAIAY/QqNwUe3NGX4Qx1aMZDKtb_QGCyLf9PkUgCLcBGAs/s320/23548158_10155953361312244_1146123839_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first win for a while </td></tr>
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1 - Jamie Rich (Against Men and Fish) - 3lb 10oz<br />
2 - Adie Bishop (Taunton) - 2lb 4oz<br />
3 - Graham Field (Taunton) - 1lb<br />
<br />
Sections<br />
A - Jake Woodard (Ilminster) - 3oz<br />
B - Baz Morgan (Somerset Angling) - 9oz<br />
<br />
We should have fished the pond today and that's twice in recent weeks we've got it wrong but as I've said many times, it's a thankless task running matches which is why I'm glad I don't do it very often and fair play to those that do.<br />
<br />
After three matches and dropping the worst result, here's how the IBC league is shaping up,<br />
<br />
Graham Field - 2 pts (dropping 1)<br />
Jake Woodard - 4 pts (dropping 3)<br />
Adie Bishop - 4 pts (dropping 4)<br />
Paul Homewood - 5 pts (dropping 30)<br />
John Dursley - 5 pts (dropping 30)<br />
<br />
We've had six matches in the two leagues so far and out of interest, I had a look at which pegs have framed,<br />
<br />
120 - 4 times (won 1)<br />
128 - 4 times (won 1)<br />
110 - 3 times (won 2)<br />
126 - 3 times (won 1)<br />
128a - 2 times<br />
123 - 1 time (won 1)<br />
124a - 1 time<br />
125 - 1 time<br />
<br />
obviously that doesn't necessarily tell the whole story as conditions can play a massive part and others factors like peg 123 has only been used a few times whereas 120 has been in every match but I do enjoy looking at facts and figures and I'll keep this list updated as we fish the rest of the league fixtures and I'll try and put some interesting stats on here regularly. At the moment, the dominance of Isle Brewers is pretty evident (with the exception of 110) although I do think Hambridge will have a say when we start using it, I also think Coxes would have been a better bet than Redbridge today and would probably have provided the winner.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Next up</b></span> - River Isle<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Coming soon</b></span> - Another great interview<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: orange; color: red;"><b>Check Out</b></span> - My latest trip down memory lane (below)</div>
Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05206232197364552517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31509096.post-44378252659723204542017-11-08T20:17:00.001+00:002017-11-08T20:17:40.959+00:00The Archives - Part 3 - New venues and a big goldfish! (1983)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So at the end of Part 2, I'd won my first match and thanks to mum and dad at Xmas I was the proud owner of my first carbon fibre rod. I was still super keen and getting on the bank as often as possible, if I wasn't fishing myself, I was watching other anglers and asking questions. I was also buying all the fishing magazines, Angling Times, Anglers Mail and Coarse Fisherman.<br />
<br />
<strong><u>1983</u></strong><br />
<br />
I was fishing the canal at every opportunity and enjoying catching carp off the top, there were also several good sized golden orfe that had found their way in there from somebody's garden pond and although orange in colour, they weren't the brightest of fish and were caught on a regular basis. They also weren't the best of fighters and used to come in like a wet paper bag, almost bream like!<br />
<br />
One of the first matches of the season was a juniors versus seniors competition on the canal and all the youngsters were chomping at the bit, hoping to teach the 'oldies' a lesson on our home water. I can't remember exactly how many anglers fished only that there was a good turnout and the senior team consisted of members of the committee.<br />
<br />
I drew a peg near the top of the canal, it may have even been the famous 'Alcove' peg (which I'm sure people will remember if they fished the canal back then) but with loads of anglers lining the banks, the fishing was really tough with just the odd tiny rudd being caught and it was looking like being a low weight affair. It was neck and neck between the two teams with most people having caught a few small fish when all of a sudden a big orange shape appeared and was heading my way. I cast out so the float landed in the orfe's path and my single maggot sunk slowly in front of it, the float slid away and the strike was met with solid resistance, thankfully the fish didn't put up much of a scrap and I landed a good fish with shaking hands.<br />
<br />
One of the seniors, Ian 'Ollie' Brister, was on my right and later in the match he also landed a 'carrot' of his own although his looked smaller than mine. The rest of the match passed without a lot happening and then it was time for the all important weigh in. The scales started at the bottom end and by the time they reached Ollie, the top weight was a fellow junior, Andrew Crouch, with 6.5oz, Ollie weighed 1lb 2.5oz and then it was my turn, my golden bonus weighed 3lb 8oz and I added 2oz of tiny rudd to give me a total of 3lb 10oz.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FO4O0-XDCGk/WejMNTnLg-I/AAAAAAAAH0k/VbfgDR4yyMMs4cXVEgkFwODfK37HTbvwgCLcBGAs/s1600/scan0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1022" height="253" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FO4O0-XDCGk/WejMNTnLg-I/AAAAAAAAH0k/VbfgDR4yyMMs4cXVEgkFwODfK37HTbvwgCLcBGAs/s320/scan0008.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This lovely golden orfe made my second match win, a memorable one</td></tr>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-66aA1p94pWs/WejNsetTT4I/AAAAAAAAH0o/iWBnUPTZJhcbKcD9XBwBSXk4KWlL3YWuwCLcBGAs/s1600/scan0022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="339" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-66aA1p94pWs/WejNsetTT4I/AAAAAAAAH0o/iWBnUPTZJhcbKcD9XBwBSXk4KWlL3YWuwCLcBGAs/s400/scan0022.jpg" width="148" /></a></div>
<br />
After the totals had been added up, the juniors had won comprehensively, beating the seniors 5lb 3.5oz to 1lb 7oz. What was really pleasing was that we'd have still edged it, even without my bonus fish.<br />
<br />
As it was a good size for a golden orfe at that time, I entered it into the Anglers Mail Top Fish contest and was over the moon when I received a letter to say I was a winner in the junior category and had won a Daiwa Harrier match rod, it was a nice bit of kit but not a patch on my Rule's carbon rod. I also submitted an entry later in the year with another orfe of 2lb 7oz and won a Daiwa reel!<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tsU0CwRDLpU/WejbrvOzf2I/AAAAAAAAH08/5xGc-qc3NoArYG_NPytSaHlKkkeYsdyTQCLcBGAs/s1600/scan0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="766" height="181" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tsU0CwRDLpU/WejbrvOzf2I/AAAAAAAAH08/5xGc-qc3NoArYG_NPytSaHlKkkeYsdyTQCLcBGAs/s400/scan0011.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clipping from the Angler's Mail</td></tr>
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So the season got off to a great start and 1983 turned out to be a really good year as we started to visit different venues although I was still fishing the canal and the Isle as often as I could. We started fishing Chard reservoir quite a bit, it was producing lots of big roach with many topping 2lb, I never managed to break that magical barrier, my biggest roach was 1lb 12oz, which was still a lovely fish. Mum and dad took me to Longleat a couple of times and it was great fishing, catching plenty of skimmers and roach along with the odd crucian and tench. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qOvEtvVAc2s/Wejm_txkhqI/AAAAAAAAH1I/Pl8Cpk-x8F8KbC8H2PHDxY8igkDj5OAGgCLcBGAs/s1600/scan0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="1021" height="251" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qOvEtvVAc2s/Wejm_txkhqI/AAAAAAAAH1I/Pl8Cpk-x8F8KbC8H2PHDxY8igkDj5OAGgCLcBGAs/s320/scan0012.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice 6lb 2oz common carp caught down the canal</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hk4XPW9ckvQ/WejnQqvMrPI/AAAAAAAAH1M/3GCkYrWrtwkIforr-Ank05l3zbdOPgmDgCLcBGAs/s1600/scan0013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1024" height="250" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hk4XPW9ckvQ/WejnQqvMrPI/AAAAAAAAH1M/3GCkYrWrtwkIforr-Ank05l3zbdOPgmDgCLcBGAs/s320/scan0013.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two cracking roach caught at Chard reservoir, biggest 1lb 12oz</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-urkRD0odKy0/WejoD3rGw4I/AAAAAAAAH1Q/EI0TwKQvLa8qruKOQ_cPhvQ_cnCeO9AHQCLcBGAs/s1600/scan0014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1022" height="250" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-urkRD0odKy0/WejoD3rGw4I/AAAAAAAAH1Q/EI0TwKQvLa8qruKOQ_cPhvQ_cnCeO9AHQCLcBGAs/s320/scan0014.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Longleat, nice surroundings for a days fishing!</td></tr>
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Towards the end of the summer I caught a good sized carp on floating crust down the canal but it bottomed out my 7lb spring balance scales so I'll never know how big it was!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-go6kfrApwDU/WekLoH4Lt3I/AAAAAAAAH2A/mNsVOndnPI8Ix0EiubYRUVIceZKNFUIQgCLcBGAs/s1600/scan0024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="872" height="255" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-go6kfrApwDU/WekLoH4Lt3I/AAAAAAAAH2A/mNsVOndnPI8Ix0EiubYRUVIceZKNFUIQgCLcBGAs/s320/scan0024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My biggest ever carp from the canal but how big?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rather blurry photo of me fishing the Isle (Vernon's peg which is now peg 23), note the Barbour wax jacket (which was the Halkon Hunt of it's day) and the Hunter wellies. I'd also upgraded to a fibreglass seat box and used an Abu Diplomat closed face reel for most of my river fishing</td></tr>
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I was still doing okay in the junior matches and won the Club Cup which was fished on the Isle, with a weight of 2lb 4.5oz, I also won the Points Shield, the Aggregate Trophy and for good measure won the pairs for the second year running but this time with Jason Miles as Mark England was no longer eligible to fish the junior matches, which meant the trophies were a bit more spread out this year!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x7Fw_VwkJr0/We-iW-xDkAI/AAAAAAAAH5M/G8ZKdmGrh3oC_8QcsaUIssObcjdVV-VLACEwYBhgL/s1600/scan0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1093" data-original-width="1275" height="341" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x7Fw_VwkJr0/We-iW-xDkAI/AAAAAAAAH5M/G8ZKdmGrh3oC_8QcsaUIssObcjdVV-VLACEwYBhgL/s400/scan0016.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The presentation night was held at the George Hotel (apologies for the poor photo quality but it's scanned from a newspaper clipping)<br />
Back row from left to right, Robert Tolman, Don Jobson, Aubrey Tulk, Stuart Brown, P Wright, somebody I can't make out!, Bob Filler jnr, Jason Miles, Ian Brister, me, Kevin Tolman, Adrian Green and Dave Back<br />
Front row, Bob Filler snr, Roger Russell, Barney Crockett</td></tr>
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<strong><span style="background-color: orange; color: red;">Next up</span></strong> - Part 4 takes a look back at 1984</div>
Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05206232197364552517noreply@blogger.com0