Wednesday 22 March 2017

Sunday 19th March - Manor farm

Back to manor farm for the open match. A good turnout of 30 anglers spread over Ash, Middle and boundary pool. 10 on each lake.

The wind was going to be a nightmare today with it being well over 30mph and some gusts over 40mph+!

I drew peg 8 on middle pool, with the wind howling at me so the chance of a pole match was going to be slim. Set up my trustee Colmic Airon F44 at 11.5m which I could hold just about in the wind.

A Colmic next adventure 60, usual set up with a 400 Zartan and 0.20 Method line, to a pellet feeer.

A Colmic next adventure 45 bomb rod.

Fed my pole line and started on the Pellet feeder just my sidd of half way. My peg is directly in the middle of the lake and sometimes it can be good for catching carp. After a few casts of building up a bit of bait my first fish was in the next a nice 7lb Common which fought really well but was no match for my Colmic 60 11ft rod.

A good first half of the match on the pellet feeder saw me doing well on the lake.

I had been feeding my pole line all match and had a look on it. This saw me catch 2 small carp and 2 big F1s.

By now my match was fading, pellet feeder line had slowed up, pole line was getting harder and harder to present in the wind, it was time to look on my pole line which again I had been feeding with 8mms when the wind allowed.

This saw me have a little run of fish for the next hour but nothing amazing.

Back out on the pellet feeder with an hour to go saw me catch a big F1 but was really struggling now.

Decided to spend the rest of the match on the pole and in the last 40 minutes I had 4 F1s.

My 12 carp and 5 F1s went 81-2-0 which was enough for second overall.

Really enjoyed catching on the pellet feeder and learnt a lot which is the main thing!

96lb won which was achieveable off my peg I think but felt that wind really wasn't helping me.

Saturday 18th March - Manor farm

With mild weather again and a decent turn out the open was spread across Boundary and Windmill pools, I drew peg 26 on Windmill not a brilliant area, I would rather be on one of the pegs either side of me. And with 10 on Windmill it was going to be quite hard.
I decided to just focus on a 13m pellet line, I would normally fish 14.5m but the wind was going to be a pain.
Then I plumbed up against a bush on the island where it was surprisingly deep, around 5ft which I thought maybe to deep!

I didn't have an edge on this peg really as you can't see past the brambles or to your left.

I caught steady on my 13m pellet line but soon chased them out to 14.5m, I caught the odd fish shallow but was just very odd fish. The deck was much better.

I caught quite a few small F1s with a couple of carp to weigh 56-0-0 which won the lake and put me second overall in the match!

Well done to Frank Donachie who blitzed the match with 130lb! There's no way I'd of caught that!


Tuesday 21 March 2017

Sunday 11th March - Manor farm open

With warmer weather and a good turnout of 21 anglers it was set to be a good match. 
Island. Middle and Ash pools were all in the bag and I fancied drawing on ash. 
Peg 18 stuck to my hand, it's a good peg on the far side of Ash pool but your set back from 20 and if the fish are in the middle of the lake, 20 normally dominates it. 

After walking all my kit round to my peg as didn't want to get stuck in the mud I had already made my approach. 
I was fishing to win the match like I always do and in order to do so I was going to fish quite positively. 

With the water temperature above 10 degrees the fish were and wanted to feed shallow. 

I set up: 
A profiessional 25 Colmic waggler rod, coupled with a Zartan reel, 0.20 main line to an 0.152 Spider hook length. Size 16 B911 X-strong. 5gram drennan waggler. 

14.5m pellet line, 

Top kit plus 3 - short line as a banker. 

And 3 shallow rigs. 

The perfect match would be start on the waggler, catch a few, build up my pole line, then catch shallow on the pole....

And that's a little bit like how my match went. 

I began fishing at around 25m on the waggler firing 6mms around my float set 3ft deep. After a while of building it up I caught reasonably well and the first hour had gone and I'd got 7 F1s, all the while I had been pinging my pole line and was itching to drop on it. A quick look on the deck only saw me catch skimmers so back on the waggler for a few more. 

The waggler line faded and I was adament I'd catch on the pole. A short while of perfecting my rig, feeding and presentation I was soon catching shallow. 

At around 1:30 I probably had around 70lb and the wind was starting to pick up slightly giving me a nice ripple which is just what I needed, this gave the fish confidence and the shallow line, for an hour became solid! 

With an hour to go I was hoping it would get stronger but it faded slightly, so I pushed out to 16m and began catching again it they were noticibley smaller. 

The hooter sounded and the match was over, I roughly counted I had over 50 F1s and 2 Carp. 

My fish weighed 150-2-0 which won the match! 

Best rig was a Map SF2 to 0.152 Colmic F1 spider mainline to and 0.11 hook length. 
I fed around a pint of 4mms on my shallow line and half a pint on the waggler. 

Really enjoyed the day and learnt a fair bit to hopefully leave me in good stead for the summer!





Saturday 11th March - 2nd redhill pairs

2nd and final round of the pairs match
I drew peg 8 on Sophies right in the corner.
I really hoped Id catch down the edge and short... but I didn't!
Only place I caught was long at 16m but was really cut off by the pegs either side of me.
Corner pegs are either really good or really bad.
Managed 2 down the edge late on but wasn't enough.
My 12 carp went 34lb which beat 2 on the lake.
As a pair me and my mate James Allen didn't do any good but can't help but feel the draws we both had weren't the best.
Well done to the lads that won it and well done to Gary Donachie and Gary Watts who came 2nd as a pair.


Sunday 5th March - Manor farm leisure

Drew peg 36 on Island pool.  Had a nice day catching on the pellet feeder against the Island and on the pole. Caught mainly F1s with a few small carp. 
Weighed 76-0-0 which won the match! 
 

Saturday 4th March - Redhill pairs match

Redhill pairs match, I'm fishing with James Allen. 
I drew peg 17 on Mollies in the corner and struggled all day! Caught an odd fish all on pellets. To weighed 14-8-0 which beat 4 on the lake. 
James struggled on Sophie's lake and think he came 4th on there. 
With the system done on weight it could all change next week! 


Sunday 26th February - Manor farm

With a good turnout of 27 anglers it was set to be a good match.
Again with the wind howling across the complex that was going to make things difficult.
Island, Ash and Middle pool were all in the bag.
Middle peg 27 was set to be my home for the day. This end of the lake has been good recently but with middle pool they move so quickly you just never know where there going to be.
After fishing manor farm quite a bit I tend to keep my approaches very similar on most pegs.
A bomb rod, to fish bread to start then maybe change to pellet if needed.
A 14.5m pellet line.
An edge line. Normally I would only set and edge line up in summer but with this being an end peg I just had to set it up as a throw away line.
I kicked off on bread and didnt have a bite after 3 chucks in 30 minutes. So a quick look on the pole bought 2 skimmers to the net.
The odd fish was being caught around the lake so a quick change of rigs on the pole saw my first F1 in the net.
The wind was getting stronger and stronger and I had caught a few on the pole but it was making presentation really difficult!
So I decided to start pinging 8mm pellets at about 25m for the bomb. A quick look on that saw a nice run of 4 fish then nothing.
The next hour was terrible didn't really catch at all! And hoped my pole line would get good last hour. And it did! The wind eased a bit and I could present it nicely and had a steady run of fish. 
Didn't think I'd done enough to beat Chris Cameron next to me though. 
I weighed in 68-0-0 which was 2nd on the lake and 4th overall so a nice day! 


Thursday 2 March 2017

Saturday 25th February - Larford lakes

Drew peg on the match lake and was told I was to far up!
Decided to fish mainly rods as the wind was howling! However I did set up 1 rig just incase.
Kicked off on the bomb and bread had 2 fish in the net after 15 minutes. An f1 and a 7lb carp, which was a great start!
However... for the next 3 hours I didnt have a single bite or liner! Had a quick look on the pole but presentation was all over the shop due to the really strong winds.
Decided the rest of the match was best spent sat on the method feeder just my side of half way. I then had 3 in as many chucks in the last 40 minutes but was to little to late.
My 5 fish went 24lb which was no good.
Weights down my end were terrible, you needed to be further up towards the island.
Well done Gary Donachie on the win!

Saturday 18 February 2017

Saturday 18th February - Manor farm leisure

Manor Farm Leisure.
Final round of the winter league.
After struggling in the first 3 rounds I needed a miracle to do any good overall.
Last 2 rounds have been good.
Won the lake/match in round 4 and 2nd on lake/match in round 5.

Just wanted a days fishing, after drawing peg 12 on middle I really didnt think that was going to happen. The opposite end is where you want to be or middle of the lake can be a safer bet.

Started my match on popped up bread after feeding my pole line. A big F1 was the start I needed. The odd liner on the bomb gave me some hope of fish in the area so a quick look on the pole after 30 minutes and I soon began catching.

Took me a while to sort out how they wanted it but soon got into a rhthmn and caught some nice F1s!

At around 1:30 my match was fading.
I had around 14 or 15 F1s a a carp and was struggling for a bite.

Had to pick fish off for the rest of the day. Catching 1 then moving lines.

My 18 f1s and 2 carp went 76-0-0 which was enough to win the lake and 3rd overall.

Was nice to feed a little bit of bait today as I felt they wanted it! I thought I might of caught more carp than F1s today but to my surprise I didnt!

Hopefully this warm weather continues!
Not fishing tomorrow unfortuanlty.
Roll on next time!


 

Sunday 5 February 2017

Sunday 5th February - Manor Farm Leisure

I drew peg 7 on Ash pool.

22 anglers fishing.

I set up two pellet lines both at 14.5m where I would fish pellets.

The rigs were: A colmic big float in .5g, 0.135 F1 spider mainline and an 0.10 hooklength with a Colmic size 16 WN501 for fishing expander pellets to my right. I cad potted pellets on this line.

A Jon Walker diamond in .3g, same mainline and same hooklength to a size 20 B911 hook where id fish a lasso'd pellet and ping pellets on this line.

I had a really nice day with plenty of bites. Seemed to only catch skimmers and the odd F1 early part of the match then caught a few f1s and carp later on.

I ended the match with 4 carp, 5 f1s and 24lb of skimmers to weigh 54-0-0 which won my lake and was 6th overall.

Was really enjoyable catching those skimmers! Wish id of gone for them earlier!




Saturday 4th February - Lower park farm

I haven't fished this venue for over 2 years but really liked it when I was last there. As I remembered from last time all the lakes had a lot of stock fish in so I had already planned my approach.

36 anglers fishing.

I drew peg 11 on Lowland which meant nothing to me. Getting to my peg and not seeing any movement at all (no fish blowing/topping on the whole lake) I thought it could be really hard!

I decided to attack it like so:

13m to my right. With maggots and micro pellets. The rig was a F1 maggot chianti float in 4x14. 0.13 f1 spider mainline to an 0.09 stream hooklength, to a size 20 Colmic WN501 hook.

13m to my left. Where id feed 4mm pellets and fish an expander or hard pellet. The rig was a Colmic big float. In 0.5g. 0.13 mainline again to a 0.09 stream hooklength, to a size 16 WN501.

Top 6 straight in front. Exaclty the same rig as above just a slightly lighter float in 0.3g.

An edge line to the next pallet in 3ft of water. The rig was a Colmic Mike float, 0.152 F1 spider mainline to an 0.12 stream hooklength.

I kicked off on the maggot line to weigh it up and see how it was going to fish. An few moments passed and my float dinked and 3ft of Colmic 1.5mm hollow soon fired out, this resulted in a small angry, plump F1 which was just the start I needed. Before I knew it, another 9 f1s soon followed and I was flying.

After these 10 fish this line was starting to fade, so a quick look on my pellet line a was soon back catching again. Pellets seemed to be much better so decided to change my other line to a pellet line so they were both the same and got in a nice rythmn of catching 5 or 10 fish then changing lines. I caught best by hooking a fish and then rattling in 10 4mm pellets ready for the next fish.

I found the 1.5mm hollow elastic was best as I didn’t need to use the puller bung which would of slowed me down. The bites were really negative, tiny little indications on the float or just the float simply doing something unnatural.

With about an hour to go I had 65 fish on the clicker, I couldn’t catch short for some reason and I had been feeding a little bit of bait down the edge. Time for a look! I caught 2 f1s straight away down here, same size as I was catching in open water. The next fish was a little carp and then not a bite so for the last 40 minutes I decided to stay on my open water lines.

The hooter sounded and the match was over, a look down at my clicker and 78 was displayed! It really didn’t feel like I had caught that many… but I had!

The scales came round and my 75 small f1s and 3 carp weighed 62-8-0. Which to my surprise won the match!


I had a really enjoyable day catching those stockies and that’s the most stockies i've ever caught so also learnt loads of things! 




Tuesday 31 January 2017

Sunday 28th Jaunary - Alders farm

Decided to go to Alders Farm today.
I really do like this venue but have never had much luck there.
Especially on pines where the open was go be held today.
In the winter league last year I went on peg 1 twice and peg 28 once. There both right in corner and very feast of famine and just seem to be famine when I draw there!
Couldnt believe it when I drew peg 1 today!
Set up 2 lines.
Maggot and mircors at 14.5m
Maggot and micros to my left in 3ft of water.
Caught 2 early skimmers then had to sit and wait for bites. Its difficult becuase the fish have to be there as you haven't really got anywhere to draw fish from on there.
I ended ended up with 4 carp and 2 skimmers for 19-0-0 which was no good. 6th overall.
Lost a decent carp to after taking my time with it which has probably cost me 5th or 4th but thats fishing.
Im hoping to get to alders farm more this year as It is a long way away but its a brilliant venue!

Monday 30 January 2017

Saturday 27th January - Manor farm

Round 5 of the Manor Farm Individual winter league today.
I struggled the first 3 rounds only beating a few on the lake so not really in contention for the league.. unless a miracle happens.
Last round I was lucky enough to draw on some fish and win the lake/match with 90-0-0.
Onto today I thought there would be some real tough draws.
Peg 8 on Boundary pool stuck to my hand, this pegs had a bit of form lately so thought it could be ok.
Set up 2 pole lines.
Both at 14.5m.
Where id fish maggots and groundbait on one and pellets on the other.
Started on bread didnt even have a liner which was worrying.
I had a look on my pellet line but that didn't produce any bites either after giving it a good 20 minutes.
To catch something I had a look on my groundbait line and caught some stamp roach on this for the next half an hour.
Looking round the lake the odd F1 and carp was being caught so I thought catching silvers was pointless.
After not getting anymore signs on the pole on my pellet line I felt my time was best spent on the bomb.
I had to be really patient waiting for bites.
A little boilie was best, my longest cast was 45 minutes and reeling it in after that time is hard!
I ended up with 4 carp and 2 F1s which went 40lb plus my 5lb of silvers left me on 45-0-0.
This was only enough for second on the lake and 3rd overall in the match.
Those silvers are really worth catching, I think if I went properly for them, on a hard day there well worth catching. 

Sunday 22nd January - Manor farm

Manor farm today.
Been a struggle!
Drew peg 13 on windmill.
Broke the ice.
Caught some roach on maggots for 5-8-0 and 6lb won my section!
Not a great weekend for me!
Roll on next time!





Saturday 21st January - Hillview

Hillview open today.
Peg 9 on Moorhen.
Broke the Ice and got very cold!
Didnt catch a lot either!
I weighed 6lb of small skimmers. Which was no good!
Onto the next one!
Good or bad day I always do a write up!
Roll on tomorrow!



Friday 20 January 2017

Sunday 15th January - River Avon Evesham

Something totally different for me today.
I was asked to stand in for a friend of mine on the Pairs Winter league on the River Avon in evesham.
I drew peg 22 on the Common.
Decided to fish pinkies and grounbait at 14.5m and a groundbait feeder for on the far shelf.
Had 3 pinkie rigs.
2g.
3g
4g. All Jean Francoise floats.
0.11 Colmic F1 spider line to and 0.07 stream hooklength. Size 24 B911.
Cupped in 6 balls of groundbait at the start laced with pinkies and casters.
Didnt have a bite on the feeder so felt my time was best spent on the pole.
Managed 2 little skimmers and some roach all on pinkies.
I weighed 1-9-0. Which beat the 2 anglers to my right. And the 2 to my left.
The weights got better further to my left.
Despite not catching a lot I still enjoyed the day and it was nice to fish a river which I havent fished for well over a year!

Saturday 14 January 2017

Saturday 14th January - Manor farm

Today was the 4th round of the individual winter league at manor farm. 

I drew peg 3 on middle and fancied it to catch F1s. 
I fished pellets on the pole on two separate lines. And bomb and bread. 
Caught a few early on the bread then went onto the pole and began catching. 
Middle part of the match I rested my pole lines and fished the bread for 40 minutes and then caught quite well later on on the pole. 
I had 21 F1s and 4 carp and weighed in 90-0-0 which was enough to win the lake/match overall. 
With the table changing after today's results it's all to play for, with a few difficult draws last few rounds I was struggling but this 1 point has pushed me right up the table and its now all to play for! 
Roll on next round! 






Thursday 12 January 2017

Sunday 8th January - Harsecombe Fishery

Harsecombe fishery - Field lake.
I really like this lake. The fish are stunning and fight really hard showing there really healthy.
Also its full of silvers. So if your struggling to catch carp you can alway go for silvers.
I drew peg 10 which is a peg I drew about a year ago on here.
I came 2nd in that match so decided to fish it similiar.
2 pellet line.
And line down the edge to the roots at 14.5m where I had about 4ft of water.
I started of really well.
2 carp and some small skimmers in the first 15 minutes.
This soon died and I had a quick look down the edge and had an instant respone. A very hard fighting little barbel.
The lake as a whole was fishing quite well. The anglers in the little bowl around me were catching as well.
Going into the last hour I felt like I was doing ok but myself and all the anglers around me had stopped catching and the 2 anglers up the other end of the lake were sacking! I think they moved up there in numbers and they both couldnt get in quick enough!
I knew they were going to be first and second overall and I was hoping Id be 3rd...
I weighed 51-0-0  which was 3rd overall.
2nd had 72lb and the winner had 82lb.
I feel I would of struggled to have that but I enjoyed the day and I do really enjoy this lake.




Wednesday 11 January 2017

Saturday 7th January - Manor Farm

Manor farm leisure open
14 fishing. 
I drew peg 10 on boundary which has been a good area lately. 



I kept my approach simple. 
2 pellet lines, both at 14.5m. One straight in front and one off to my left.
Both rigs were the same. 
Map SD1 4*14 float, Colmic F1 spider mainline in 0.152
Stream hook length 0.10. 
Size 20 B911 with a lasso

One line straight in front of me and one off to my left. 

Bomb and bread rod. 
Colmic Next adventure 45 11ft rod. 
0.20 Colmic method line.
To an 0.152 spider hooklength. 

I was surprisingly ready before the start of the match so to kick it off I fed my line straight infront with 20 4mm pellets and chucked out the bomb and bread, with 2 10mm discs. 
Eagerly watching the tip for any liners or indications. I always watch the rod closely when fishing bread because I need to know if im fishing to far past the fish or if theres any fish in the area. 
No bites first cast so chucked it 10m further than where I did. 
2 minutes later an viscous liner turned to a nice indication and soon after a decent size F1 was in the net. 
I then continued on this and had another big F1 and a big mirror around 10lb and a small mirror. 
By now Frank Donachie was catching to my right but no one was really catching. 
Time to look on the pole. 
After around 5 minutes I hooked a nice skimmer on the pole which was a good sign. 
I perservered on the pole for the next hour and managed about 10 f1s. 
After around 2 hours I was doing ok but my good mate Frank Donachie was flying next peg and had probably 7 or 8 more fish than me, so I had to do something. 
I chucked out the bomb for 2 more casts after feeding both of my pole lines. 
Without an indiaction on this after half an hour I was soon back on the pole. 

For the remaining 2 and a quarter hours I decided to sit it out on the pole and got into a nice little rythmn. 

Id catch one on my left hand line where I had been feeding 15 4mm pellets via a cad pot and then go onto my other line and catch one where Id been pinging some bait straight infront of me. 

I feel pinging is better at manor farm as it seems to attract fish into the peg. 

Last hour seemed to slow right down and Frank didnt have a single bite and I had been plugging away catching the odd fish and felt now I wasn't to far behind. 
It was going to be close! 

Frank thought Id won and I thought he'd won.... 

I was right! 
Frank weighed 61-0-0 
And I weighed 57-2-0. 

Just needed my last hour to be a bit better! 
A big well done to Frank who won the match hes just awesome! 
Was great to have a bit of banter during the match which just makes the day better. 

My 57-2-0 put me 2nd overall and I really enjoyed the day!