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Showing posts from 2014

BBC2 - The Big Fish

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Fellow anglers, The BBC have announced a new program called, "The Big Fish". "This exciting new format for BBC Two will see anglers from across the country testing their skills in some of the most stunning and challenging environments around the world." -  Kim Shillinglaw, Controller, BBC Two Further release information here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2014/the-big-fish Filming will be April, May, June 2015 in overseas locations. I've certainly filled out an application!  Here is your chance to "be on a show, so go get your applications in by following the link below: http://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/beonashow/the_big_fish Good luck, Lewy **UPDATE : I got through the interview process and the filmed interviews, unfortunately never made the final audition... Good luck to those Anglers on the show, I'm looking forward to watching it.

How End Fishery, 7th December 2014

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Dani's - Peg 4 With Christmas approaching and the weather starting to really turn wintry I was itching to get out on the bank again.  A quick call to Phil at How End Fishery to find out if there were any open matches available and he mentioned his club, Kingfisher AC where having a winter league competition on Sunday. I know quite a few of the lads who would be fishing and they kindly let me join in on the action.  Saturday morning brought the first frost in winter and Sunday morning while not frosty was pretty cold.  The journey from London to How End was pretty quick at early o'clock on Sunday and I was quickly greeted or maybe abused by the lads who were already there.   The Draw Today we would be fishing Dani's lake.  The wind was pretty strong and the clouds were not looking inviting.  So where would I be today?  The hand reached into the Puma trainer bag and pulled out Peg 4, probably one of the easiest pegs to get to from the car park. The Set-Up Setting

MFS - Tylers Common, Willow Lake, 23rd November 2014

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With winter time being well and truly upon us I decided to fish a match at a new venue, one which has quite a reputation for large bags of carp in the summer and also in the winter.  I wouldn't be disappointed visiting Tylers Common in Essex. The weather was horrid!  That constant drizzle where it just doesn't stop... both the gear and me would be getting wet today! Arriving a little late, quickly putting on the waterproofs, I met up with the lads and the draw got underway for Willow Lake. The Draw Out of George's drawbag full of bingo balls I pulled out peg 22 which is on the bank nearest the car park.  An easy walk for the day, just have to negotiate the hill which of course I didn't and my trolley tipped over dumping all the gear on the deck.  Disaster number 1 for the day! The Set-Up I'd brought my method rod after reading an article in the Anglers Mail, but it was clear that today we would be fishing the pole, so the set up was really simple: Top

How End Fishery, 8th November 2014

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That smile says it all! When a friend asks if he can come fishing with you one day is too good an opportunity to demonstrate that fishing isn't about sitting by a pond, lake or river watching a float sit in the water all day long, but a chance to get someone else interested in the sport, to catch some fish (hopefully) and generally have a laugh along the way. So when Charlie expressed an interest and I missed his 30th birthday as I was away, yes, you've guessed it, fishing, it was an opportunity I just could not pass up.  So a days fishing was my birthday present to Charlie. The Venue I decided to go and see Peb's at How End Fishery in Houghton Conquest, somewhere I've had a few successes, some great laughs and also a blank session! A quick call to Peb's to check that Yasi's would be free for the day, which is was and to pick a peg that we knew would produce fish on a short pole line, so Peg 11 was mentioned. So the day was set and after a fantastic

River Thames, Walton, 10th October 2014

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Happy Dangler (Rick) from Match Fishing Scene organised a quick knock up match on the River Thames at Walton on Thames a stretch by Waterside Drive.   Link to the Map .  I arrived to meet Malc, Simon and Shedders.  Having missed my breakfast I decided to call Rick on his "mobile" to ask him to pick up a bacon roll for me.  Two phone calls, nothing. Rick arrived and I asked him whether or not he had received my calls, "no mate", Rick said... on investigation I'd been calling his home phone... oops, hope I didn't wake anybody. Only six of us fishing today, Rick, Shedders, Hathers, Simon Pavey, Toplights and myself so the pegging and the draw was quite a simple one The Draw My draw for the day was peg 4, easy to get too, move the car, unload and walk across the road.  A lovely looking peg with a potential cast into the slack water over by the black barges.  There was some construction work going on the far bank so it wasn't going to be a peaceful d

MFS - Larford Lash Up, 4th October 2014

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Always fun sitting in the water... Day 2 and I would be on the match lake at Larford.  The nights events for me were uneventful as I was cream crackered and went to bed at a reasonable hour, that was after an "all-you-can-eat" indian buffet at the hotel.  It was clear that a few people didn't have such an uneventful night, for example, Calum Craig, aka Maver Calum.  He didn't look well and almost missed the draw. Another small match was also booked on the Match lake which was going to make it a full lake.  Some people also volunteered to go back on the Speci lake to make the pegging a little easier. The Draw Peg 8 on the shallow bank would be my home for the day.  Carl was on this peg yesterday and had 80lb so I knew it would be a good area.  It would be a 5 man section and I was at the end of that section with a spare peg to my right.  Ian on my left and Mark on my right. The Set-Up Matt gave me some more helpful advice.  Method, Pellet and Bomb, 13 metre

MFS - Larford Lash Up, 3rd October 2014

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My fourth year at the Larford Lash-Up.  This year we stayed at a different hotel to Chateau Disney which gave the event a different feel.  I'd travelled straight from Paris so was pretty knackered by the time I arrived so it was an early night for me, which in turn meant a clear head in the morning ;-) The Draw Names where called for the draw and of course every peg that was drawn there were shouts of, "flyer!".  I pulled out peg 12 on the Burr bank of the Specimen lake which is a great area. Not too long a walk to the peg unlike previous years where I've been on the Chalet bank...  Arriving at my peg I would have Baz Wrexham and Jads for neighbours so I was expecting just a little bit of craic! The Set-Up I'd spoken to Matt and Glen who advised Method feeder at around 25 yards, 5 metre line and the margins later in the match.  So the set-up was as follows: 5 metre line with around 6 feet of depth Margin on the left Method rod Bait for the day was

MFS - Tunnel Barn Farm, 21st September 2014 with MAP

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A surprise text message from Herbie on Friday night just before I was heading out for the night and a quick call to Colin (BNF) I found out that I was invited to the MAP Day out at Tunnel Barn Farm match with Andy May and Tony Curd.  I jumped at the chance especially as the day before I was fishing there with Paul Holland. Another early start from London, but this time with no traffic issues that I had the previous day.  On arrival Colin was there with a couple of the lads.  Herbie kindly got my breakfast in, thanks Pops! ;-) Today we would be on the New Pool which was behind Extension Pool that I had fished on Saturday. The Draw We everyone gathered it was a quick and simple draw.  My peg for the day was 35 which was on the corner with Herbie and Craig for neighbours. The Set-Up No rods with me today, so I set up three lines, 2 of which would compliment each other. Shallow rig on top 2 + 2 Full depth rig on top 2 + 2 Rig for the far bank on the top shelf Bait was rea

MFS - Tunnel Barn Farm, 20th September 2015 with Paul Holland

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Winning a Match Fishing Scene competition where you get a day out with a fishing star it really doesn't get any better...  So I was over the moon when I found out that I had won a day with Paul Holland.  I'd be sharing the day with Neil Dudsbury. I have to start with thanking Neil as he did all the leg work with Paul to organise the day.  We selected a venue that was midway between Derby and London.  After discussing what we wanted to target we decided on paste and margin fishing. My day didn't get off to the best of starts as I headed up the M40 towards Tunnel Barn Farm and a tasty breakfast... The traffic simply stopped and my satnav flashed up that the M40 was closed!  Problem was, I was on it and not moving anywhere! 30 minutes later I was on the move again and I arrived at Tunnel Barn at 9am to meet Paul and Neil who had finished their breakfast by this time... We had a quick chat with Les who runs the tackle shop at Tunnel Barn Farm and grabbed a bag of 4m